sarahfongcosplay-deactivated202:

Because it’s not like the highlander where there can be only one

Im also not THAT successful or good considering I’ve been doing this like 10 years lol. Though I haven’t been doing it aggressively until the last year.

Yes this.  Don’t get discouraged about cosplaying a character because someone else does it and you think “they did it so much better than me.”  Don’t get discouraged because someone is more “successful.”  Cosplay is about having fun, and like Sarah says, there’s no rule that says “there can be only one” cosplayer for a character or for anything.

Also, if you DO want to become “popular” or “successful” with cosplay, you do have to put yourself out there.  You do have to try.  You can’t just say, “Nope not gonna do it,” because you see someone else doing a cosplay you want to do and they have a lot of likes.  Cosplay is about emulating the character you like, and 99.9 percent of the time you aren’t the only person who likes that character, so there will be other cosplayers.  

For example, I love Tiana.  There are a bunch of Tiana cosplayers who I think do an amazing job.  Better than me, even.  They’re beautiful, they’re skinny, their make up is better, whatever reason.  But hey, I love Tiana, I love cosplaying Tiana, and I love the dress my wifey made for me.  So I’m going to wear it, and be the best Tiana I can be.  I’m not going to be discouraged because someone else does it.

So all and all, just… cosplay who you want, and have fun with it  :)