I just want all girls to feel the importance of reclaiming their bodies, whether it’s getting a new tattoo, taking a yoga class, eating a piece of cake, fucking someone who makes you laugh, buying a new vibrator, or something as simple as getting a new body lotion. Show yourself kindness and love your damn self.
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.
Insecure thoughts are going to happen, they just will. Even with all of my confidence I still have that paranoid voice in my head, that kid who was called “weird” for liking anime and video games, she still talks to me like, “They’re going to make fun of you,” “Remember when they made fun of you,” and I do worry – that’s normal. The worrying stops when the cosplay is done, I put it on, I look into the mirror, and I smile. Focus on that feeling of accomplishment when you finish that cosplay, because the only person you need to impress with your cosplay is you.
I wanted to share an interview my wifey and I got to do for Geek x Girls about our cosplay and body positivity and all that good stuff :)
All cosplay is made by my wifey Snow Tigra:) (and occasionally designed by me, like the Mario dress)
Pictures are by Nude Carbon Studios and X-Geek.
Interview is here :)
Spent Friday and Saturday having a mini-vacation with my wifey before conventions start up again and to relax and de-stress. It worked perfectly :) While on vacation it became a weekend of trying new looks, from the red dress, to jumper, blonde hair, and even swimwear. Especially swimwear. I kinda have this love/hate relationship with swimwear: I love the way it looks but I hate it because I always think I look terrible. But I’ve been wanting a two piece since the whole fatkini movement, so we went out and I tried one on, along with other things.
It kinda turned into a weekend of feelin’ myself, of actually looking in the mirror and thinking I looked pretty damn good, and I think everyone should have moments where they look in that mirror and smile.
Time to Preach the Gospel Truth
Fat is just a size, that’s it. It doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It doesn’t mean you’re ugly. It’s just a size. You can be happy. You can think your hair is cute. You can like that shirt you’re wearing. You can cosplay. You can write. You can be artistic. You can be anything, ANYTHING you want to be. Don’t let these unnamed people ever, EVER convince you otherwise.
We need to stop thinking so lowly of ourselves because of appearance. We need to stop listening to what society is trying to tell us, because society doesn’t know what the fuck it wants. “Too fat.” “Too thin.” “Too everything.” If you keep trying to go by society’s standards you’ll be left with too little, too late.
This year I learned that I’m fat. Same thing I learned last year and the year before and the year before and ect. ect. The only difference is that this year I said, “Yes, and?” Same thing I did last year and the year before and… oh wait.
Seriously though this year I learned that my “yes, and” sass inspires people, and I think that’s pretty neat, because honestly, telling me I’m fat just means that you’re only capable of pointing out the obvious and not capable of even attempting to be the kind of human being who can actually talk to people and appreciate who they are instead of zeroing in on the size of their stomachs. You’re not capable of understanding that someone’s waist size is not a hindrance to their character. And frankly, if you’re put off by someone you don’t even know because they’re bigger than you then you’re the one with problem. Same thing goes for everything that makes us different, because its those differences that make this world an interesting place to live in.
Diversity is beautiful. Don’t hate on people who are able to smile and love themselves, because in this judgmental world, smiles are the bright spot that we need. If you have nothing better to do than to tarnish someone’s smile, then that’s the true definition of the word “sad.”
So I don’t think I’ve posted about this on my Tumblr yet, but a few weeks ago I was told that my cosplay presentation idea for the “Body Love Conference” made it through round one! Round two was to make a video that pretty much goes into what your presentation is, why its important, and things like that. If the video makes it through, then I get to go to the conference :)
I decided that on top of telling, I would show why it would be important. So my partner and I made this shirt, which is just a handful of comments I’ve gotten this year alone about my cosplay. This isn’t everything, because everything wouldn’t fit on the front of the shirt. How sad is that? Cosplay is supposed to be fun, right? We’re dressing up as fictional characters, who are these people who have time to say such harsh things to someone they don’t even know?
But I’m not the only one this happens to. I’m sure everyone has a story where someone said something out of line to them, whether they were cosplaying or not. And, oddly enough, that creates an understanding, a bond, between us. And through the negativity it shows why positivity is so important. It shows why your happiness and your opinion of yourself is what matters. You can’t go off of someone else’s blind judgment. You can’t let these words keep you down, I say “keep” because, honestly, they will hurt and I will never deny that part, because it’s important to be honest with your feelings. Being called these names does hurt and they will make you pause in your steps. They made me pause, but they didn’t make me completely stop. They never will. Why should they?
I know the truth about myself. I’m a writer. I’m a cosplayer. I’m an artist. I have a loving partner, great friends and family. Why is one “fat slob” comment going to stop me from living the life I want to live?
It’s not, and it shouldn’t stop you, either.
These quotes are all things that have been said to me in regards to my body and my race. It’s not everything that’s ever been said to me, oh no, not even close, but they’ve been said as recently as last month.
Don’t let the negatives take over, don’t let them weigh you down and dictate who you are. Don’t let them cover up the things that make you, you.
