Friendship Over Fame A Lesson in Costuming

Costuming has changed a lot since I began practicing the hobby back in 2006. In the beginning, way before I began,  it was a way to express your love for your favorite characters and creativity. These days,  it has become an avenue for internet fame. The scene has become somewhat chaotic and its easy to get lost and lose sight of why you began costuming in the first place. Goals change from expressing your fandom to becoming the most popular cosplayer on the internet and many lose themselves in the quest for cosplay fame. Back stabbing ensues along with egos, drama and rumors.

In the last few years, I have grown tremendously as a person and have learned valuable life lessons. This has to do with perspective and awareness. Meditation has taught me many things and has brought peace and clarity into my life. Accepting and taking responsibility for my actions and making better decisions in relationships and in life has helped me a great deal. I say this because I have learned a valuable lesson in the costuming category due to the decisions I made; I chose friendship over fame.

I have seen a lot of people change over the last few years. People who were once humble and kind turned out to be anything but. Individuals who I thought were my friends proved to be nothing more than a trendy cosplayer trying to network. I found myself trying to keep up with my Cosplay Page so it wouldnt get lost in the ever increasing flood of new cosplayers. It became a job. Before I knew it, I realized that I wasnt having fun anymore. In fact, I was pretty miserable. I knew then that I needed to redirect my focus and remember why I began costuming in the first place. Rediscovering that love and focusing on the true friendships I have made are what helped me get back on track. I also started a branch for a nation wide charity for the state of Pennsylvania. Giving back to the community through super hero charity work and helping kids in need brings me such happiness and peace.

At the end of the day, why does it matter how many Facebook likes you have? Why should you care about who is sleeping with who? Why waste your time with people who arent truly interested in being your friend? Why deal with the egotists who feel that they are above you and view themselves as "celebrities"? It doesnt. It doesnt matter. Theres more to life than that.

At the recent Megacon show in Orlando, Florida. I spent time with friends I have knows for roughly 3 years now and got to know new ones. Looking back, I realize how blessed and fortunate I am to have found such a beautiful group of people whom I love very much. Some of them I regard as family. They accept me 110% for who I am. Growing up, I had many social issues. I was bullied because I was the girl who wore a Superman shirt to school and carried a Jim Balent Catwoman comic in my binder. I was rejected from a group because I wasnt Caucasian and the other group rejected me because I wasnt Latin enough with my light skin, green eyes and inability to speak Spanish. I was made fun of for having dark hair. I never imagined that as an adult, I would been accepted. Wearing a geek shirt would be okay and no one cared what color my eyes or hair was. The love and the friendships I made, being accepted for who I am and expressing my love for comic characters; that is what costuming is all about.

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