This Mai Shiranui cosplayer is practically perfect. But every time I see this photo posted, the comment section is a barrage demonising the person, their weight, their figure... This cosplay is spot on, they're an amazing match for the character, and they're stunning. And you know what? Even if they weren't any of those things, we should be welcoming, because you don't need a single one of those things to be a fan of something or sew a thread, and because it's nobody's place to make those comments in the first place. Commenting on a cosplayer's body is like going to the Louvre and yelling about a canvas. It's the coathanger for the costume, but most importantly they're a living, breathing human being. Ardella Cosplay put it beautifully when she described cosplay as a billboard saying "I love this thing! Come talk to me about this thing!" (Paraphrased.) It's a celebration of the series and characters we love, and a lot of us pour our time, energy, money, and other resources into each costume, even if we don't have much of those things to spare. Cosplay is hugely personal. We don't cosplay for you. And we don't exist for you. -- PS: I actually don't know the cosplayer's name, and reverse search hasn't helped me. If you recognise them, please tag!
A photo posted by Variable (@variablecosplay) on
