Welcome to the cosplay community.  To the right we have cosplayers who do a wonderful job of making new friends, sharing crafting tips and enjoying meeting fellow fans of their favorite series.  To the left is we have what I like to call, CosModel Divas (males included); a group of shady people who do things that cause drama and make the cosplay community look bad. Unfortunately, it has come to the point I’m so sick of these “CosModel Divas”, that I am calling you out.

Now CosModel Divas do not include all CosModels, so here is the criteria of what I call a CosModel Diva:

1. Has or hasn’t developed an online following. Meaning you can be famous or unknown.
2. You think you are famous and the world should bow down to you.
3. You are a self proclaimed Cosplay Model who acts like some New York modeling agency scouted you out.

Now, I’ve only cosplayed for 3 years.  I don’t even make many cosplays, in fact I maybe have made 5 total.  Overall, I cosplay for fun and have yet to even book a photoshoot for my cosplay.  Yet,  have I seen some things go down in the cosplay community in a short span of time!

CosModel Divas please stop claiming a character as your character and getting upset at other cosplayers for cosplaying your character.

I can’t help but vomit every time a CosModel Diva complains about how others are cosplaying their character and they are protective because it’s their favorite character to cosplay.  The type of shade they throw at other cosplayers for being a cosplay twin is sickening. You did not personally create this character, and nor can you really claim it.  Get over it. The insecurity and jealousy that these CosModel Divas have is ridiculous.  There is always going to be someone who will do something better than you and always going to be someone who will do it worse.  Stop throwing insecure tears all over people because someone has a better photo of being your character. Better yet, stop putting someone else down for not being able to pull off the character as well as you.  No one freakin’ cares. A fan of the character will take a photo of you and others without comparing or batting an eye!

CosModel Divas, your sap stories about being broke and then posting new cosplays is really hurting you!

Becoming an adult requires the lesson of learning how to allocate money. Yes! That means to pay your bills before paying the cost of a con. That means to penny pinch for cosplay. That means if you’re writing statuses about how bad your life is, and the financial situation you are in is shitty, then turn around and post a new cosplay made out of Worbla (especially when it was commissioned); I have no sympathy for you. Also, for the love of all things that are awesome, please…please….please don’t make a gofundme. No one wants to fund your cosplay, convention, or festival especially if you are already comlaing that you are broke. Stop it! Cosplay is not worth the roof over your head or food to nourish your body. You have a lot of competition now if you want to be CosFamous so be strategic about it!

CosModel Divas, stop pretending you picked the character because you actually loved the character instead of, “hey I might get a shit ton of followers for this”.

I absolutely despise people who cosplay something before it even comes out.  When Street Fighter V announced Laura as a new character, I cringed when I saw not even a week later…someone did her cosplay. Now I was excited, I decided I want to cosplay Laura too. Yet, I wanted to wait to really know Laura’s storyline and character moves before I made a final decision to cosplay her.  I absolutely hate speaking to a cosplayer cosplaying my favorite character from XYZ and they don’t have a clue what I’m talking about. Or worse when  I come across someone who gives all the wrong facts and then tells me I’m wrong. Stop making stuff up! Admit defeat! You’re a fan fraud!

CosModel Divas, stop hating on each other.

Cosplay is a way for people to get together and share the experience of a fandom. It’s a way to become a character you love and feeling pretty, sexy or awesome for a day.  People put on cosplay because they enjoy it, they have fun, and to some it makes them feel empowered.  To be around other cosplayers is a way those who are socially awkward or anxious can feel comfortable knowing there are others like them.  We as a community are supposed to support and help each other.  Yet, CosModel Diva A is starting crap with CosModel Diva B, and this drama is smeared all over convention Facebook groups, making the community seem filled with bullies, haters and cry babies. Stop! This isn’t what the cosplay community is about, and it’s not what it stands for. Cosplay is supposed to unite us. Be the bigger person and start forgiving and reach out for friendship.

Overall the cosplay community is great! I’ve met a handful of what I feel will become lifelong friends. I also hope to continue working on new and more difficult cosplays and will turn to my cosplay friends for advice and help. It’s a wonderful community with a few bad apples. So if you come across what I consider a CosModel Diva, have them read this article. It may shed some light on them, or make them your enemy.

In the end, peace, love, and cosplay.