Yarn Goddess Cosplay
Bio
2018 is the year I decided to throw my voice in the mix and talk about cosplay community issues such as race, cosplay politics and overall share my experience and observations as a African-Caribbean Cosplayer.
Stories (21)
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Trans People don't owe anyone an explanation
I’m sure we’ve all seen by now that NikkieTutorials came out in a tear jerking video that she is a trans-woman. If you’re unfamiliar with NikkieTutorials, she is a Dutch make up artist and beauty vlogger. In 2015 her video, “The Power of Makeup” went viral and her online fame soared. As of Oct. 2019 her Youtube channel has 12.4 million subscribers and over 1.1 billion views.
By Yarn Goddess Cosplay6 years ago in Blush
The Art of Cosplay Lewds
Too many people assume that creating “sexy” content is easy. “All you do is look cute and take naked pictures of yourself! That’s not real work,” is something that is said frequently about “NSFW” cosplayers and artists and it couldn’t be further from the truth.
By Yarn Goddess Cosplay6 years ago in Filthy
My Body Is Not for Me
People truly don’t understand why women create not-safe-for-work (NSFW) content. I’ve gotten more messages about being an “Attention-seeking whore” than messages asking, “Why do you do this?” People have been trained to believe that a woman who uses her body for herself is vain. Women have been taught to perpetuate the idea that a woman’s body is only okay if it’s serving something or someone else.
By Yarn Goddess Cosplay6 years ago in Poets
Don't Sleep on QuirkCon!
QuirkCon was probably the best and smallest con I've gone to in a while, and I honestly can't wait to head back next year. Held in Durham, North Carolina from May 31-June 2, QuirkCon is a celebration of black, nerdy and gay cosplayers and creatives. For three days, attendees experienced anime trap music parties, emo karaoke, panels about black music in k-pop and so much more.
By Yarn Goddess Cosplay6 years ago in Geeks
Black or White? The Issue with Artists Humanizing Non-Human Characters
If you made it past the title, congrats! You are on the journey of learning about racism, and all its subconscious context. As a cosplayer, I really enjoy it when artists take it upon themselves to humanize some of my favorite non-human characters.
By Yarn Goddess Cosplay7 years ago in Geeks
Dehumanization 101: Why It's Wrong to Darken Your Skin for Your Cosplay
Last month cosplayer Yakfrost posted on their Twitter account a Google Docs list of known black face/race face cosplayers, and asked the community to block them from their social media. Upon hearing about the list, the cosplayers listed and their followers retaliated through misgendering, calling Yakfrost "the real racist," Nazi and other terrible things.
By Yarn Goddess Cosplay7 years ago in Geeks
How to Support a Cosplayer
Creating. Content. Isn’t. Cheap. As a cosplayer, I can’t begin to tally up how much I’ve spent on supplies, photographers, conventions and MY TIME on creating a new cosplay. I try to cut corners like creating outfits that use the same colors so I don’t have to buy yarn for every outfit. I’ve re-purposed the same wigs. I’ve gone to thrift stores and wholesale stores to cut back on costs but at the end of the day cosplaying isn’t cheap.
By Yarn Goddess Cosplay7 years ago in Geeks
"You're Pretty for a Black Girl"
I’m going to get emotional for this one, so let’s go. A few weeks ago I had posted on my IG about “compliments” I’ve received as a nerdy woman of color. Phrases like, “You’re so well spoken for a black girl” and “I didn’t know black girls are into anime” were uttered with the intent to praise me for my uniqueness. It’s as if I’ve somehow broken away from the sea of ratchet, twerking, leopard print wearing “hood girls” and turned myself into a “well spoken” respectable nerdy woman of color. As if I’ve somehow managed to repress my “blackness” and replace it with “white” like habits such as but not limited to:
By Yarn Goddess Cosplay7 years ago in Geeks
How to Be an Ally to Your POC Cosplayers. Top Story - October 2018.
The cosplay community is full of creative and nerdy individuals who love to come together to embrace their fellow nerds in fandom shenanigans. As much as the community embraces our differences, we still aren't exempt from issues like racism and colorism and other -isms/phobias. There have been too many occasions when a POC (person of color or NON-white) cosplayer dresses up as a non-white character and get told their skin color is "too dark for that cosplay." There have been cases of white (or Non-POC) cosplayers darkening their skin for the sake of "cos-accuracy" which the POC community has already expressed how harmful the practice is but people still do it.
By Yarn Goddess Cosplay7 years ago in Geeks
