Umm,unless i've gone blind,your friend is asian (or at least half asian).

As for the costumes,the AC has a much better design but is more complex as previously stated.
If i were you,i would go for the original outfit.It's the one that most people asociate with Tifa and it's easier to make.
She isn't she gets that a lot of ppl think she is Japanese but she is Native American a very light Native American.