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To call Hakken misunderstood feels like a stretch. Unlike most public figures, they are not interested in embodying a persona when they are in the spotlight, preferring to present their most authentic, unguarded self to the masses. Still, that is not to say that misinterpretations about them don’t arise.
“People don’t believe me when I say I’m an extrovert,” Hakken says over Zoom one Thursday afternoon. They have just returned to Malaysia after a trip to Japan and is on the precipice of another trip. This time, to Singapore for their Vogue Singapore shoot where they will be tackling a different dimension of dress-up as a modern-day version of model and fashion icon, Tina Chow.
“I’m just sitting there, chilling,” they continue. “I’m quietly enjoying myself, but no one believes it. They think that I must be an introvert. It might have something to do with me being a Taurus. All that grounded, practical energy.”
There is a likelihood that the stars have something to do with it. The other possibility, however, seems more probable—that is, the misconstruing of Hakken’s personality by mistaking them for the characters they choose to portray. After all, the Malaysian cosplayer has a penchant for dressing up and melding into suave, self-possessed archetypes from their favourite animes and games.
“I love to cosplay as characters that are mature and elegant,” Hakken elaborates. “Like Zhongli from Genshin Impact, for instance. They are assertive and strong, and that resonates with me.” They grin: “And of course, I love my villains as well. They know what they want even though they’re screwed up in their own way, but I think that’s what makes them different and interesting.”
In all fairness, Hakken’s sharp, fine features give off the impression of aloofness, which serves to bolster their current portfolio that largely comprises cosplaying as thorny, convoluted anti-heroes and strong-willed individuals. The degree of dualism is perhaps what grants their work a compelling edge—the unique interplay of their exuberant personality alongside their grittier roles of choice has since amassed a following of close to four million followers on Instagram.
“I think of it more as the qualities that I am attracted to rather than wanting it for myself.”
It also draws a distinct parallel to Chow, who was revered for her unapologetic amalgamating of seemingly discordant sartorial elements. Go-to ensembles typically comprise crisp white-collared shirts paired with rugged jodhpurs or severe silhouettes accompanied by dainty elements of bows and lace. Her androgynous, minimalist take on fashion was a breath of fresh air amid the disco fever that was the zeitgeist in the ’70s, thus solidifying her status as a trailblazer within the industry.
“Tina, to me, was way ahead of her time,” Hakken says. “She was never afraid of the way people perceived her style and that’s something I deeply relate to.” It is this sense of fearlessness and adventure that Hakken embodies in a series of photos shot with Vogue Singapore; a coalescence of modernity and nostalgia, masculinity and femininity.
I broach the topic of escapism then, and ask if perhaps their cosplaying of such personalities signals a yearning to embody specific traits represented by said characters in their personal life. They are quick to point out that it’s more about being enthralled by such attributes.
“I think of it more as the qualities that I am attracted to rather than wanting it for myself,” Hakken points out. “It does make me want to convey these emotions and inclinations through cosplay, though.” They pause for a minute before they add thoughtfully: “You know, I never really struggled to form my own identity. Or put in a lot of effort to find my own identity, for that matter. It just came to me naturally and I felt so comfortable. I just kept going from there.”
The surety in their voice showcases an unwavering belief in who they are, borne from a supportive family unit that allowed for Hakken’s love for anime, fashion and transformation to flourish.
“My mother and father were huge fans of anime. I was brought up in this type of family,” Hakken remarks, when asked about their first foray into the genre. “They watched the classics like Slam Dunk and Bei Dou Zhi Quan, so that just sort of passed down to me.” The fondness in their voice is unmistakable, especially when the conversation veers towards their current career path.
“When I first started cosplaying, it was purely a hobby. And then the jobs started coming in, and I had a talk with my parents and realised that when an opportunity comes, you should just take it and go,” they say, with a small laugh. “So I dived right into it without thinking too much about it.”
Hakken began cosplaying at the tender age of 12; a markedly different time from present-day when manga and anime form a central part of our zeitgeist. As they recall, no one was engaging in cosplay when they first started out in their hometown of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is a far cry from our current timeline, when tickets to conventions such as Anime Festival Asia—where Hakken conducted a fan meeting just last year—are continually sold out.
I make a quip about the jarringly different attitudes towards anime in recent years and how my childhood knowledge centring around Cardcaptor Sakura and Pokémon did me no favours in the popularity department. The same can hardly be said now, to which Hakken agrees. A large part of their current job scope has to do with helming meet-and-greets at crowded conventions, and they have observed less gawking and hovering whenever cosplayers conduct outdoor photo shoots.
“It’s something modern fashion can’t quite replicate. It’s something from the past that is so captivating.”
“The public had no idea what cosplay was when I was starting out,” Hakken says with a rueful chuckle. “Families would be passing by us on the street, and they would be like, ‘what is this?’ And I would get so self-conscious. I just wanted them to leave me alone. Like, let me do my job in peace!” they exclaim. “But I think it helped me be more thick-skinned. I don’t care what they think now or how they look at me.”
It’s precisely this indifference to outside influence that further cemented Hakken’s sense of self as well as style. While they describe their everyday look as one that is continually evolving—they reminisce about a Japanese streetwear phase several years back—there remains one constant: a love for vintage silhouettes and detailing.
“My mum is a tailor and she used to make some of my clothes. She is a super fashionable person and would always be dressed in stuff from the ’70s or ’80s. I learnt to sew from her,” Hakken explains. “And I’ve just been so inspired recently by these vintage men’s suits from that era, and even some pieces from the ’20s and ’30s. It’s something modern fashion can’t quite replicate. It’s something from the past that is so captivating.”
Indeed, Hakken’s Instagram feed is littered with personal posts that are a testament to classic tailored separates made modern when paired with cavernous leather jackets and belted blazers. And yet, there is a distinct kind of congruence between their cosplay garb and their daily wear; two halves of a whole which further reinforces the distinctive essence that is all Hakken.
Perhaps they just have an exceptional sense of curation, or maybe it has everything to do with their illustrious management team that is responsible for this cohesiveness. Either way, there is no doubt about it: Hakken knows who they are—and they are beyond exhilarated about what comes next.
“Excitement is what I’m aiming for. New adventures, new experiences,” they pause contemplatively. “I hope to see myself doing a lot of different things. I can’t visualise specifically where I’ll be in five years, but I think that is the place I’d like to be in.”
For Hakken, this venture into new frontiers kicks off during their birthday month in May, when they are planning a series of in-person events that allow for more fan involvement and interaction.
“I do a lot of conventions and public appearances where I get to meet my fans. They queue for hours, or sometimes even days, just to meet me for 30 seconds. It makes me feel bad because I want to interact with them more.” It is clear that Hakken harbours a strong desire to build authentic connections and engage their community. “I want to create memories that both me and my fans can treasure,” they say decisively. “Like a party or a gathering. Something along the lines of a tea party, or a ball, or maybe even a yacht.”
“I never really struggled to form my own identity. Or put in a lot of effort to find my own identity, for that matter. It just came to me naturally and I felt so comfortable.”
Whatever they decide on, it is clear that they will throw themselves into it with the same single-mindedness and meticulousness that is prevalent in each of their cosplay projects. Hakken’s sublime work ethic is well-recognised within the industry, after all, which brings me to my next question: what does Hakken do in their downtime?
“My work involves a lot of travel and photo-taking, so I’m outside a lot of the time. When I’m home, I just stay on my couch and watch movies,” they say. “There’s never really downtime for me though because I’ll end up scrolling through my phone researching new projects or resources. I do that every time I pick up my phone.”
Hakken assures me that they do silence their work notifications occasionally—and it is only later in our conversation that the topic of hobbies comes up again. “Actually, I’m really interested in horoscopes and Myer-Briggs Type Indicator. I did the 16 personalities quiz, the cognitive function test, the Enneagram list,” they say, counting on their fingers. “I even looked up my horoscope chart with my sister the other day and it was so fun.”
For the record, Hakken is a Taurus with a Leo moon and a Virgo rising. According to an astrology expert, this means that Hakken is a down-to-earth individual with a theatrical side. This checks out, but what I find more fascinating is the commitment they have shown to discovering new sides to themselves; a recognition of the fact that one can be certain in their identity and still be intrigued by a facet of themselves they have not discovered just yet. Whatever it is, we can only hope that we will be lucky enough to witness it.
Editor-in-chief Desmond Lim
Photographer Zantz Han
Producer & Videographer David Bay
Stylist Desmond Lim
Set designer Alexander Ng & Sandra Sek
Make-up Marc Teng using Chanel Beaute
Hair Ken Hong
Manicure Ann Lim
Photographer’s assistants Hizuan Zailani & Justin Toh
Stylist’s assistant Nicholas See
Talent Hakken
Location Hevel
Pre-order your copy of the March ‘Dualism’ issue of Vogue Singapore online or pick it up on newsstands from 4 March 2023.
