Feature: Losing my cosplay [in public] virginity

It was 9pm Wednesday night when I got the text that I needed to make another arrangement to get to comic con if I wanted to be there by Thursday. Having missed preview day I was a bit bummed.

I thought that I would just go on Friday. Then a friend called me to ask me about it, and mentioned I could stay with them. I was thankful. I honestly couldn’t afford to go when you added gas, car, and a room to the mix. I didn’t have the heart to tell anyone.

I made a last minute tweet that I was looking for a ride down. I was frustrated and went to bed shortly after.

6am:
I get a message saying that a friend of mine can get me there if I get him the address. It was last minute and I hadn’t packed at all. I am a huge procrastinator sometimes and going on trips was at the bottom of my expectations right now with my budget.

I was ecstatic. I jumped out of bed and frantically started to get ready. I had less and less time before the friend got me. He was trying to beat traffic and was only going down there for a day of coverage for his site.

I have a suitcase with various costume garb in it: wigs, dresses, outfits. They were waiting for the right time. Around Halloween especially, my costume fetish gets more insane. If you open up my glove compartment in my truck you will find pieces of costumes for on the fly situations. I am always prepared to be someone else if the mood suits me or if there’s a costume party. And yes, I’ve had to use them before.

But here’s something most people don’t know: I’ve never cosplayed in a convention setting, let alone something as massive as Comic Con. I have been nervous and intimidated by the costumes that people have. I’ve had children so am paranoid about my body at times. I realize now, that’s silly.

The suitcase that holds costumes in my room was perfect size for the con. I dumped it out, thinking I would think about wearing the one I wore for Halloween and threw too many clothes into a suitcase. As cliché as it sounds I know that many women tend to over pack when in a rush, and I’m no exception.

What I didn’t expect though was that the costume I’d originally thought that was in there wasn’t. A different one was. A child sized Supergirl costume that hadn’t made the light of day last Halloween season somehow.

When I was at the hotel on Saturday to get something I noticed it. Friends told me that it would be the perfect time to wear it. I guess you have to start sometime huh?

I was amazed. I can understand why so many people enjoy cosplaying for the conventions. I wish I had done it sooner. This costume that I thought was silly and cheesy got smiles and attention that made me blush the whole time. Cosplay was not only fun, but it was empowering.

I did it because I was dared to do it- for however silly as it sounds, this is what seems to work for me in cosplay situations. I wore a wig to work on my first day to EA as a tester and had it on for 3/4th of the day before taking it off and revealing my real hair. Why was I so afraid to do it where so many people are doing it anyway?

For women out there everywhere, I implore you to take advantage of the events and cosplay at least once in your life, and not for the reasons you may think.

There were men, women, and children of all shapes and sizes and every color of the spectrum both racially (well, Klingon is a race too isn’t it?) and in technicolor. There is zero reason for you to be afraid. The cosplay community is very open and warm regardless if you’re a first timer like I was or are a veteran.

Do not be afraid to be who you are. Do not be afraid to be someone else sometimes- weathers its Batgirl or Alice in Wonderland or your favorite anime character. Be creative. Be a copycat. You will be surprised how much fun you are missing out on if you don’t either way… trust me. I’m officially hooked. Tack one up for another vice. My pocketbook is going to hate me.