black cosplayers: digital fandom gets punk

Around the Internet, February is, among other things, #28DaysOfBlackCosplayer month.

Each day, you gorgeous beings upload wonderful photos of your most badass cos-plays, daring race, and gender-bent plays, and remixed interpretations of your favorite fictional characters. Y’all break the fucking Internet. And if you’ve been following us on social media for a while, you know we love the shit outta each one of you nerds.

You are cosplayers on a budget, who cobble together the most stellar recreations out of found materials and few resources. You are cosplayers who are changing the face and perception of fandom, and of geek/nerd culture. As with almost everything we do as Black folks in white society, you all are breaking barriers in sci-fi/fantasy and cosplay just by being yourselves (but in cooler clothes).

We’re so inspired by you all and in honor of your coolness, we’d like to celebrate JUST A FEW of our favorite cosplayers this month as we celebrate all the ways Black creatives defy expectations, shun norms, and just fuck shit up by being unapologetically punk rock #PunkInThePlace.

@Mimithnerd

 

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CANARY : HUNTER ❌ HUNTER I love HXH and I’ve been wanting to do this cosplay for ages now!!! She’s one of my fave characters !! Taking 30 mins just to bloody put red hairbands in my hair was worth it hahah #hunterxhunter #canaryhxh

A post shared by (@mimithenerd) on Jul 5, 2019 at 12:48pm PDT

 

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BRING IT ON let’s not lie now, clovers were the best team in this film sksksksksks May Natina Reed RIP #bringiton #cosplay #cosplayer

A post shared by (@mimithenerd) on Sep 17, 2019 at 12:08pm PDT

Jasmine Grimes – @MysseMatch

 

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Sorry I left you in an explosive situation. You’re a big boy. I figured you could handle it yourself. . . I heard they’re casting for the next Bond movie. I’m ready. Haha. Here’s Jinx Johnson from Die Another Day.

A post shared by Jasmine Grimes (@myssematch) on Feb 27, 2019 at 1:43pm PST

 

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He will never give you that. The Dark Lord. The thought of you, of any of us, having both terrifies him. . . Prudence Night from the Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina. I almost didn’t post today because I don’t feel the best, but I promised 28 days, so onward I go.

A post shared by Jasmine Grimes (@myssematch) on Feb 7, 2019 at 4:55pm PST

 

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Not that it’s any of your busines, but, I hung out at the mall, stopped by the Den and got a tattoo. . . I told y’all I was coming back, and of course it had to be with a 90s cosplay! Ever since I got this wig I couldn’t shake off wanting to cosplay Moesha, so of course I had to find a way to make it happen. I’ve missed cosplaying sooo much and I’m glad I’m finally back!!

A post shared by Jasmine Grimes (@myssematch) on Jul 6, 2019 at 3:27pm PDT

LeRoyal Tutt Entertainer – @royaltnoy

 

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This was the pregame face before #SDCC that my brother @jmarctutt captured. I knew I would be making the face the whole time at the con haha. Gotta prep the facial expressions right. Bzzzzzz! Outfit by @rashon.wilson Staff by #AfterlifeModelworks Accessories by @onlyalicat #CosplayofColor #RubyRhod #FifthElement #fifthelementcosplay #thirdbestattraction #RubyRhodCosplay #menofcosplay #malecosplay #blerd #blerdcosplay #blackcosplay #loeg #cospositivealliance #cospositive #starsofcosplay #starsofcosplayman #Comiccon #comiccon19 #sdcc19 #TheFiftheElement #blackcosplayersrock #cosplayersofinstagram #cosplayoftiktok

A post shared by LeRoyal Tutt Entertainer (@royaltnoy) on Jul 30, 2019 at 8:19pm PDT

 

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Flip your phone, am I sitting or hanging upside down? Shout out to the people who save my pictures lol. WHO ARE YOU?! 📸 by @pointblankshot_photography Suit by @therpcstudio Pattern by @brandonogilberto #MilesMorales #spiderman #intothespiderverse #earth1610 #multiverse #spiderverse #marvel #spidey #webhead #marvelcomics #marvelcosplay #manhattan #brooklyn #newyork #cosplay #cosplaying #cosplaymodel #cosplayphoto #cosplayphotography #cosplayersofinstagram #Cosplaylicious #cosplaylove #badasscosplay #starsofcosplay #cosplayofcolor #blerd #blerdcosplay

A post shared by LeRoyal Tutt Entertainer (@royaltnoy) on Jun 9, 2019 at 8:52pm PDT

Anuli D. – @thouartanuli

 

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Y’all Goin Remember My Name. 🔥 Ember was THAT bish and facts 💯 we all remembered her name and her song cuz it slaps til this day. 👏🏾👏🏾 #ember #dannyphantom #embercosplay #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #blackgirlmagic #blackcosplayer #blackcosplayersofinstagram #blackcosplaygirl #blackcosplayerhere #blackcosplayersrock

A post shared by Anuli D. (@thouartanuli) on Jun 16, 2019 at 5:25pm PDT

 

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Day 2: Sailor Allura in dis bitch. Artwork by FujiHotaru via tumblr #otakon #otakon2018

A post shared by Anuli D. (@thouartanuli) on Aug 10, 2018 at 10:07am PDT

Kiera Please – @kieraplease

 

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🌊✨Mera’s having a GIVEAWAY ✨🐠 – I wanted to do a little #giveaway for spooky month ^_^ and just a little thank you ☺️🥺🖤 an Apple Watch, a go-pro for you to capture all your adventures, and some makeup to make all your dream looks come true RULES 1️⃣ like this post 2️⃣ follow @kieraplease 3️⃣ tag a friend boop! It’ll end in a week (October 13) 🕊 & I’ll edit this post with the 4 winners (chosen randomly) ^_^ open internationally 💕

A post shared by Kiera Please (@kieraplease) on Oct 6, 2019 at 12:57pm PDT

 

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Cruella 2.0 💣 halloween idea no. 6 #cruelladevil

A post shared by Kiera Please (@kieraplease) on Oct 7, 2019 at 2:39pm PDT

 

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💋 Jessica Rabbit 💋 halloween idea no. 7

A post shared by Kiera Please (@kieraplease) on Oct 8, 2019 at 2:55pm PDT

Kay Bear – @kayyybear

 

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I used to think that my life was a tragedy. But now I realize, it’s a comedy. 🤡 #joker #jokermovie #joaquinpheonix

A post shared by Kay Bear ♡ (@kayyybear) on Oct 4, 2019 at 11:41am PDT

 

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Woogity woogity! ‪ Reggie Rocket from Rocket Power 💥 🚀 What do you guys think? ‬

A post shared by Kay Bear ♡ (@kayyybear) on Aug 12, 2019 at 1:09pm PDT

@tranquil_ashes

 

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Hotboi Summer #Akuma from #streetfighter ! Even Gods need a vacation! Oh, colossalcon you were fun! 📸 @thesleepymuse . .Check out @curvy_curvy_cosplayers as I am a page model for them and they show awesome cosplay vixens! #cosplay #cosplayer #tbt #blackcosplayersrock #blackgirlmagic #afropunk #makeup #nerds #comics #wcw @cosplayofcolor #insta #instagram #videogames #goddess #blackgirl #wcw #videogames @blacknerdproblems @cosdope #bodypositivity #plussizecosplay #streetfightercosplay #comics #colossalcon

A post shared by Your Cosplay Revolution (@tranquil_ashes) on Sep 14, 2019 at 1:42pm PDT

 

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⚡⚡Ms. Diamond and Pearl’s loves singing with best buddy Powerline! ⚡⚡Don’t you just love A Goofy Movie! . . Powerline : @roquois ⚡ 📸 @gimmiecookie Hoops: Check out @curvy_curvy_cosplayers as I am a page model for them and they show awesome cosplay vixens! #cosplay #cosplayer #tbt #blackcosplayersrock #blackgirlmagic #afropunk #makeup #nerds #comics #wcw @cosplayofcolor #villains #instagram #videogames #Disney #blackgirl #wcw #agoofymovie

A post shared by Your Cosplay Revolution (@tranquil_ashes) on Aug 6, 2019 at 3:54pm PDT

 

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A little Anung Un Rama…. selfie for your Friday 🔥🔥 @phillycomiccon #hellboy . . Check out @curvy_curvy_cosplayers and @stars_of_curvy_curvy_cosplay as I am a page model for them and they show awesome cosplay vixens! #cosplay #cosplayer #blackcosplayersrock #blackgirlmagic #afropunk #makeup #comics #bodypositivity #plussizecosplay #hellboycosplay #bodypaint #plussize @perlmutations @actordougjones

A post shared by Your Cosplay Revolution (@tranquil_ashes) on Apr 12, 2019 at 6:53pm PDT

 

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How did you feel about the series premiere?! . Khal Drogo #cosplaysidebyside . Check out @curvy_curvy_cosplayers and @stars_of_curvy_curvy_cosplay as I am a page model for them and they show awesome cosplay vixens! #cosplay #cosplayer #blackcosplayersrock #blackgirlmagic #afropunk #makeup #bodypositivity #plussizecosplay #plussize @gameofthrones @prideofgypsies @khaldrogo @georgerrmartin #gameofthronescosplay #mondaymotivation

A post shared by Your Cosplay Revolution (@tranquil_ashes) on Apr 15, 2019 at 1:06pm PDT

@shellanin_

 

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The Saiyan Princess 👸🏾💙 📸: @jaseminedenisephotography Armor: @tellezcrafts . . . #dragonball #dragonballz #dragonballcosplay #dragonballzcosplay #vegeta #vegetacosplay #cosplayer #cosplay #cosplayersofinstagram #curlycosplay #curlycosplayer #blackcosplay #blackcosplayer #poccosplay #poccosplayer #blackcosplayerhere #vegetacostume #dragonballcostume #dragonballzcostume #femalevegeta #femalevegetacosplay #28daysofblackcosplay #shellanin

A post shared by Shell💓 #CurlyCosplay (@shellanin_) on Feb 17, 2019 at 2:59pm PST

 

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Yumeko Jabami ♥️🖤 I’ll be streaming in this cosplay today around 8:30pm EST! What game would you like to see me play in the future? Check me out on Twitch.tv/Shellanin🖤❤️ . . . #yumekojabami #jabamiyumeko #yumekojabamicosplay #yumekocosplay #Kakegurui #Kakeguruicosplay #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplayersofinstagram #atlcosplay #atlcosplayer #blackcosplay #blackcosplayer #blackcosplayerhere #curlycosplay #curlycosplayer #shellanin

A post shared by Shell💓 #CurlyCosplay (@shellanin_) on Aug 8, 2019 at 3:59pm PDT

@bishopcosplay

 

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Still feeling that electrical vibe 📸 @sfdesign21 #blacklightning #cw #cosplay #365daysofblackcosplay #cosplayingwhileblack #blackheroesmatter #blacksuperheroes #dccomics

A post shared by BISHOP COSPLAY (@bishopcosplay) on Oct 9, 2019 at 2:35am PDT

 

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The dRed Skull . . . 📷 @gimmiecookie makeup by @corey1914 #cosplay #cosplayer #awesomecon #awesomecon2019 #hailhydra #redskull #hydra #365daysofblackcosplay #28daysofblackcosplay #cosplaying #cosplayingwhileblack #blackexcellence #blackcosplayer #captainamerica #villain #villainsalute #marvelvillains

A post shared by BISHOP COSPLAY (@bishopcosplay) on May 17, 2019 at 2:22am PDT

@_lucky.luna

 

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” The benefit of being a Hulk is that if you’re having a bad day…it’s usually pretty easy to find someone deserving a punch in the face!” She Hulk / Jennifer Walters cosplay by me. Photography and editing by @desolozantas . . . . #shehulk #blackcosplayerhere #blackcosplayersrock #jenniferwalters #cosplay #igcosplay #girlswhocosplay #curvycosplayer #plussizecosplay #poccosplayer #marvelcomics #marvelcosplay #cosplayanyway #cosplayyourway #cosplayingwhileblack

A post shared by Lucky Luna 🌙 (@_lucky.luna) on Jun 5, 2019 at 9:41am PDT

 

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Working on art commissions so for now, here’s another shot of Ivy! . . #poisonivy #poisonivymakeup #poisonivycosplay #cosplayofcolor #poccosplayer #blackcosplayerhere #blackcosplayers #blackcosplayersrock #dccomics #costober #cosplaymodel #cosplaymakeup #curvycosplay

A post shared by Lucky Luna 🌙 (@_lucky.luna) on Oct 22, 2018 at 5:06pm PDT

@nelliceus

 

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Mondays are for suckers 🍭 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀📸by: @cam.shot.first Assist by: @i_am_cat_man

A post shared by Nell🌻 (@nelliceus) on Oct 7, 2019 at 7:26am PDT

 

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I heard y’all wanted more Storm in ya lives 👀⚡️

A post shared by Nell🌻 (@nelliceus) on Aug 13, 2019 at 11:09am PDT

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