This story begins like most nerds; I would imagine, with a vividly illustrated comic book or graphic novel. Pictures so detailed and bold that they seem to come to life all around you, creating a world you’ve only imagined in your dreams. You want to be apart of it! You want to be THAT character. I’ve always had this urge to be my favorite characters in books, movies, and stories. I always thought I was crazy, that it was just for Halloween or random costume parties that people threw. So when I discovered that there was a community of people getting together dressing up, taking pictures, and being the characters they have always loved and cherished I was stoked! I’m not positive on the exact moment that I discovered cosplay, but I do know that my desire to get involved grew immensely about three Halloweens ago. I was living in Florida, interning at a theatre in Sarasota having the time of my life, wearing some of the most amazing costumes I’ve EVER worn for a production (created by costume designer Sara Hinkley, google her!) and living what I like to call “the dream”. A group of us decided to be our favorite characters for the holiday. I chose to take on the punk-mohawk toting persona of the one and only Storm.
I was so serious about being as legit as I possibly could that I had my mom express mail me, my bad-ass thigh high boots and even contemplated actually shaving my head. After a conversation with my cast mates of Pinocchio I decided against it, the Blue Fairy just wouldn’t be very celestial with a fierce mohawk. None the less, I felt AWESOME in my costume! I felt like I could fly or make it pour down rain or electrocute some crazy bad guy that might spontaneously appear. I was Storm that night and no one could tell me different. For the next few years I lived vicariously through photos and blogs of cosplayers, hoping and wishing that one day I would have the courage to make my dreams come true. Then I went to C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo), my first con ever! It was amazing and eye opening. Cosplaying isn’t about having the very best costume imaginable. It definitely doesn’t hurt when you’re participating in a competition, but it’s more about the feeling that I had that Halloween when I was Storm. It’s about you paying homage to your favorite characters and being them for a day! It’s about having fun with your friends. It’s about meeting people that love the same things that you love and making new friends. I left C2E2 feeling completely ablaze and ready to start my journey.
I found a brand new sewing machine on craigslist for 50 bucks (sidenote: you don’t NEED a sewing machine to make your costumes, I’ve talked to a few cosplayers that handsew all of their work!), bought some scrap fabric and started practicing. I have officially made my decision to have my first costume be Raven (Teen Titans) and will be making my cosplay debut at Wizard Con Chicago. Wish me luck! Ready. Set. Let’s GO!
Marjie Southerland is an actor/singer/mover/shaker from New Jersey, living “The Dream” in Chicago,IL. Check out her website www.marjiesoutherland.com and ‘like’ her on facebook to stay posted on all of her adventures!
