Bucket List Item 6B

I have a Bucket List. There are things I want to do before I leave this world for New Life. My Number 1 item is Psalms 27:4.

One thing has I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

As a Christian, that scripture gives my heart joy. That's why it's number 1. Bucket List Item #6B gave to joy but it also gives me a little fear, also.

As a Black, Plus Size Woman with only basic sewing skills and limited expendable funds, doing Cosplay gave me a small size of anxiety. Wait I know, I know. What is Cosplay?  A contraction of the words costume play is a hobby in which participants called cosplayers to wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character. Thank you, Wikipedia!

When you think of Cosplay, you think of someone that looks like a cast member of Revenge of the Nerds or Big Bang Theory. (Interesting the one non-American character referred to a plus-size lady he slept with after a con as Tubby Sailor Moon) Your mind doesn't think about me. Pop Culture and it's limiting definitions has a crazy way of doing that.

But when you do the research. Folks with limited sewing skills do cosplay. Cosplay doesn't have to cost an arm & a leg. Don't believe me, go to Instagram and look up #ClosetCosplay #CasualCosplay. The people found inspiration in their closets, clearance racks, and thrifting. While on there, look up Kiera Please, a black woman's page dedicated to her cosplay looks. Between her page and the IG page of Chunky Girl Universe, my mind brimmed with possibilities. And every February #28DaysofCosplay pours over with pictures of Black cosplay all month long.

One of the members of Chunky Girl Universe was even featured in Curvy Fashionista's article, 13 of Our Fave Plus Size Cosplayers – Who Are Also Women of Color! Read it HERE. 

That is where I saw the perfect cosplay character for me to be...Penny Proud of The Proud Family. And I made my cosplay debut at WiComicon in Baltimore. (You read about my experience at that event, HERE) My outfit including hair & shoes came to $27.

I shopped my closet & clearance sections to achieve the look. And I felt like I did good. No one asked for my name, they call me Penny Proud. I must have gotten my first Cosplay look right. Oh and the 1st person to recognize who I was, a vendor, who had a rad green & black haircut and also a plus-size sister. Anyone who knows her, tell her I said "She Rocks".

So, I'm checking off 6B.

6B Cosplay at a Con ✔

After the Event
Look

I had fun. And this may not be my last time doing cosplay. Penny Proud was my first idea, but I have a list of possible characters to be. And there are other Cons & events out there.

As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms