Jess Sims Cosplayers are some of the MOST creative folks out there. With just some fabric, tape, and a sewing machine, they create fantastical pieces based on iconic pop culture characters. It was disheartening to learn that even in the cosplay community, plus size bodies are often relegated to the back.
Enter Miss TaLynn Kel, a “fat, Black, femme writer, cosplayer, and Intersectional Womanist.” TaLynn brought her fiercest costumes, and friends, out for the first plus size Cosplay Catwalk show at this year’s TCF Style Expo.
Everyone Can be a Hero with Cosplay
Cosplayers Took Over TCF Style Expo!
TaLynn was joined by several other cosplayers, and brought her 15 years worth of cosplay experience to educate the crowd on the greatness of cosplay and what it means to her, “I have made it my objective to find people who are interested in cosplaying…I can bring that into other spaces where people are congregating and anyone who is into cosplay could be up there with us. It was important for me to be able to offer that to people.”
TaLynn did NOT disappoint! We got the show of our life, with lovable characters from anime, cartoon shows, and pop culture classics.
The Plus Size Cosplayers showed up and showed out and we got to hear their stories and interesting tidbits about their costumes.
Representation in Cosplay – It’s Necessary and NEEDED
In a space like cosplay, where participants are often on the fringes of society, it’s unfortunate to hear about how plus size bodies are treated.
I didn’t see myself and I still don’t, I commission artists to draw me in my cosplay. I want to see women who look like me, being fierce, bold and taking charge of all sorts of situations. -TaLynn Kel
This sentiment was echoed by first-time cosplayer Dana Morgan. Dana, a long-time conference photographer, felt like she needed to throw her hat in the ring for representation:
“I never felt like I could do it [yet], because I wasn’t seeing a lot of tall, curvy women [like me], a person of color. With encouragement, I finally took the leap.”
Dana chose Captain Yoruichi, from the popular anime Bleach because she is “a strong, tall, dark[er] woman and one of the most powerful women in the universe.”
Plus Size Cosplay and the Plus Size Community
It’s easy to forget that even in a space like cosplay, where fantasy reigns supreme, we’re still met with the harsh realities of mainstream ideals of beauty. The TCF Style Expo Cosplay Catwalk is so important and necessary.
We need MORE representation, more plus bodies, and more acceptance and TaLynn is fighting to make that happen.
“I have made it my objective to find people who are interested in cosplaying … so I can [cosplay] that into other spaces where people are congregating and anyone who is into cosplay could be up there with us.
It was important for me to be able to offer that to people.”
To see more of TaLynn’s amazing work, you can visit her website and follow her on most social networks.
Have you ever cosplayed? Or dreamed about cosplaying but were too afraid to do it?
Let me know in the comments or over on Instagram!
Don’t forget to tune in here and across all of The Curvy Fashionista’s social media channels for more TCF Style Expo coverage!
I hope I. An make it next year! Love ! As a cosplayer I appreciate being included. It’s hard as a plus cosplayer.