Stephanie P is just adorable for 28 Days of Black Cosplay!

First name and last initial: 

Stephanie P. (Or PJ!)

Where are you from originally or reside currently? 

I’m from New Jersey!

How long have you been cosplaying? 

I’m actually a relatively new cosplayer! It’s been about 4-5 years since I’ve started, but I’ve been crafting and crocheting for as long as I can remember!

What characters have you cosplayed the most?

[Social Media Pages]

I’ve made two separate Kirby cosplays so far, that franchise has always been close to my heart! I’ve also done multiple Care Bear cosplays, some from Animal Crossing, and I cosplay Mae from Night in the Woods a lot. You can find me on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, and Facebook @faepjcosplay!

Who or what inspired you to cosplay? 

When I first was getting into anime and fandom culture in 2012/2013 I remember feeling so sad because I didn’t see anyone who looked like me cosplaying and I had a “friend” who I confided in. She responded “yeah the only cosplay you could do is Cuba from Hetalia, he’s pretty dark”. This discouraged me for a long time. Then in 2020, Tik Tok became pretty popular and I found so many amazing Black creators who had been doing this for years! I remember watching @keondra.k and @todorkies and realizing this is something I can do! I also felt encouraged by my friends to go to my first convention in 2021, where we did an MHA group cosplay! 

2022- Cheshire Cat
Photo creds: me!

What do you do when you aren’t cosplaying (day job/hobbies)?

I’m a Board Certified Music Therapist on an adult behavioral health unit! I teach them ways to use music to process emotions, be creatively expressive, and relax. We do things like instrument playing, drum circles, meditation, songwriting, singing, song analysis, karaoke, games, and much more. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences in my life right now.

Blerdcon 2023- Leafeon Gijinka and my first award!
Photo creds: @okgenise

What costumes have provided the biggest challenges/rewards so far and why?

My latest Kirby cosplay was definitely a challenge, but also a big reward. I started this cosplay in January and worked on it until two days before Blerdcon in July. For this cosplay I challenged myself to do the cleanest work I could do. I started earlier than I did for other cosplays to provide myself enough time to fix any mistakes, make changes as needed, and make sure I didn’t have to sacrifice my vision. There were times I messed up and thought “this may not even be noticeable”, but I redid it anyway to make sure I was truly providing the best work I could. This was also my first fully crocheted cosplay which made the process that much more time consuming. It was all worth it in the end because I was able to confidently stand before the judges and say this is truly my best work which resulted in me winning my first major award! 

AnimeNext 2023- Hinata
Photo creds: @yogimx (my fiancé lol)

What is the best advice you would give to other cosplayers of color? 

When I was younger my mom used to tell me “don’t let other people steal your joy”. And I think that’s the best advice I can offer. I missed out on so much because of my fear how I will be perceived by a majority white audience. I could’ve been doing what I love so much sooner if I just thought about what I wanted to enjoy. It was never about them, it should’ve fully been about me and my creativity and freedom. I know this is easier said than done, some days the racist and fat phobic trolls still get to me. But then I think of my younger self who dreamed about being able to do what I do now, and that’s what gets me through. I wish I could tell my younger self we grew up to make awesome things that other people are truly excited about! So do it for you and that child within you that always had a dream and a sense of wonder. Never let them take that from you.

Blerdcon 2024- Kirby Gijinka; Best Novice Craftmanship!
Photo creds: @okgenise

What one thing could the cosplay community do better when relating to one another?

I think we still have a ways to go in regard to inclusivity. We’re definitely better than where we started but we still fail to support cosplayers of color as well as other marginalized cosplayers. We need to be showing up for one another outside of awareness weeks, blackouts, etc. We should go out of our way to support and encourage one another because the space deserves diversity and because we all deserve to feel seen. We need to continue to cultivate a safe space for one another and for the cosplayers who come after us.