Seriously, if you want to cosplay, do it. I know some people worry about what others will think of their cosplay, and I understand that feeling, especially after getting my share of negative comments. Don’t let those comments get you down. I know it’s hard, because it’s really easy to focus on the negative, on the “what if someone makes fun of me.” And, honestly, I do it too. I have that doubtful voice in my head. But then I remember all the fun I have and how amazing I feel when I’m walking around as these characters. That’s what you should focus on, and that’s what you should think about. Instead of wondering, “Will someone make fun of me,” think about all the fun you’ll have. Think in positive what if scenarios. What if everyone loves your cosplay? What if you meet some amazing people? Don’t let the negative, or the potential of something negative, stop you. Cosplay is something you do for yourself; it’s something you do because you want to have fun, because you like to be creative, and you love a certain character or series. Keep those things in mind.

I got to do an interview for Women Write About Comics and I kinda love that they used this snippet of the interview in the preview pic <3 <3 <3 This incident happened nearly 2 years ago but it’s still my favorite response every to being bullied. 

You know some people give others a hard time if they don’t make their own cosplays, if they buy them or someone makes them for them or whatever and… I’m wondering why no one has said anything to me about this? I don’t make my costumes at all, my partner does. Not that I think anyone should be hassled about cosplay whether they buy it or not, but… what makes me the exception? Is it because we’re together? 

Or is it because there’s other things to focus on (weight, race, ect)? 

All and all I think if you want to cosplay you should just do it, I mean I WANT my partner to take commissions and make people costumes so why would I ever have issue about people not making their own? Taking commissions is how some people make a living, and on top of that, again, I don’t make my costumes so who am I to be like, “Ugh how dare him/her not make their own cosplay.” I sketch ideas, sure, and maybe I’ll paint something, but that’s about it. I’m essentially the model, if you will, that shows off what my partner can do. And I have a damn good time while I do it  :)

I’m thinking it’s because when I cosplay if someone wants to bash me for something, it’ll be over my appearance versus who makes it for me, you know, because I’m plus sized and black and all that jazz. I find this interesting, because I feel like to a bully its like, “Ugh she shouldn’t cosplay at all,” so the last thing on their mind is how the costume came to be. I’ve rarely gotten bashed over the quality of the costume, but because, “She’s eating herself to death,” and, “whale,” and things like that. When I do get comments on the costume itself and its a critic, its simply that: a critic, and usually one that makes my partner go, “Oh man I should’ve thought of that,” or, “I’ll remember that for next time, thanks!" 

In the end bullying doesn’t discriminate, it just comes in different forms, you know? Some people get bashed for weight, for race, for being "fake,” for not making their own costumes, it’s just all kinds of ridiculous. You can be too fat, too skinny, too sexy, the wrong color, an attention whore, boring, too tan, too tall, too short, not the right gender, and all sorts of things according to a bully. 

That’s why I always say just be happy with what you do, because no one else is going to cosplay a character in the way you would. There’s no one else who is going to smile the way you do, going to laugh the way you do, pose the way you do, and love a character the way you do. Cosplay the way you want, and show your love in your own way, because that way is your own <3 Buying a costume doesn’t mean you can’t bring your love and charm to it. My costumes are made for me, and I bring my smile to them all the time.

So here’s me and my partner/costume maker/coauthor/love of my life. Without her, I wouldn’t be in any of these cosplays <3

Let’s create a couple of scenarios.

Let’s say I decided to cosplay Catwoman. Someone might tell me, “You’re too fat to cosplay her” or “fat cat.”

All right, fine. Let’s say one of the women I follow, who is skinny, says they want to cosplay Catwoman. Except their black. Someone might tell them, “Catwoman isn’t black” or “Check it out, ghetto Catwoman.”

All right. Fine. Let’s say that another woman I follow, who is skinny, and white, says that they want to cosplay Catwoman. Someone might tell them, “That cosplay is too slutty” or “attention whore.”

This right here is why there’s no point in stressing about such negative comments. Same character in each scenario, only different levels of negativity. This is why, my number one advice, is to smile and cosplay who you want  

So here’s a smile from me to you 

***

Bonus scenario: So then you may start to envy the male cosplayers of the world, thinking that they must have it so easy. Then you see a picture of a male cosplayer with a caption like, “He tried, I guess?” Or even see statements like, “Male cosplay is so boring” “Superman really let himself go, huh?” “What’s up with this Wolverine?" 

So, everyone? Smile, on the count of three: 1. 2. 3!

(also special thanks to Nude Carbon Studios for the Tiana pic!)