The Cosplay Crusade: Why Cosplay Is Good For You

Welcome back!

Comic con has just happened this past weekend and usually I would be having post con blues. However, this year I haven't gone as I have planned an awesome holiday to Disney world with my partner and family. So to celebrate comic con I thought I would share with you an article I wrote while I was at university about cosplaying and why it is good for you, in particular women. This article was actually published in a student run, feminist magazine named BIA last winter. I hope you enjoy it!

It's nearly Halloween and as you scroll through costumes online you cannot help but wonder why every single ladies costume has the word 'sexy' or 'naughty' in front of it. You wish that you could just find a fun costume that wouldn't dispute your promiscuity or sexuality. There is almost never a 'sexy' Frankenstein or 'naughty' Dracula costume for men. You wish that women would kick the lingerie inspired costumes to the curb an sport a more intelligent costume, that not only empowers them but showcases their personalities. 

Stomping to the rescue, female cosplayers all over the UK are doing exactly this; empowering themselves, wearing their personalities with pride and celebrating their femininity. Female cosplayers are trying to change the stereotype that the world has of women in costumes. They aren't always desperate, unintelligent or lacking in confidence. Cosplayers dress up at different times of the year frequently and argue that it isn't odd or consistent with the stereotype as discussed above. It actually gives them more confidence, stimulates their minds and provides them with a creative outlet.

Frequent cosplayer, Zara Thorn, talks about her experience cosplaying "I love cosplay. It's like a huge costume party that everyone is invited to. I feel so happy and comfortable cosplaying. I feel more myself when I cosplay than any other time of year. I love expressing myself through my costume and having fun playing a character that I admire and follow". Not only is it an empowering and fun experience for Zara it is also a time to socialise with friends. "I meet so many different people when I cosplay and its a great excuse to see friends you don't normally see as much".

Recently a psychological study 'expressions of fandom' was taken out on a group of female cosplayers and a group of females who didn't cosplay. One part of the study revealed that when wearing a mask women who cosplay felt more comfortable with themselves in comparison to the women who don't cosplay. Psychologist Dr Rosenberg suggests "This can imply higher self-awareness. It could also show that women who cosplay are more aware of who they are and this could give them more self-confidence and result in a higher sense of self-love".

Leah Wilson works a nine to five job but enjoys cosplaying all year round and agrees with psychological studies concerning cosplay and self-confidence. "I love escaping my nine to five routine where there are rules and regulations into a community where I can really express myself. It's nice that people come up to me and compliment me on my cosplay. This definitely gives me more confidence in myself and my costume making skills. I used to be really self-conscious but since I started cosplaying I couldn't be more comfortable with myself and my body".

Not only are female cosplayers celebrating their new found confidence, they are feeling more empowered by doing so. It is no wonder 71% of female cosplayers participate in five or more events a year if it gives them such a boost of confidence and strong sense of who they are. If you too think it's time to suit up and band together and break the female costume stereotype then head over to mcm.com to find out more about cosplaying and how you can take part. 

And that's a wrap! If you enjoyed this article, let me know as I have a mass of others somewhere in my dusty document archives that I can share with you all.

*CIAO*

Negative Space and Self Esteem

Welcome back!

I have been thinking about posting another brainfood post for a while but I wasn't exactly sure what to write. My last post about introversion was better received than I thought so I thought I would do another personal mind post about what I determine negative space is and how you can improve your self esteem. As always I have included a few illustrations to help this post along.

First things first I do not suffer from any sort of mental health illness but like many other people I do struggle with self-esteem and how I perceive myself. This is a huge problem amongst the general population because today's society teaches us that self-love is arrogant and big-headed. But self-love is okay. As the famous saying goes how can you expect someone to love you if you do not love yourself? So grab yourself a cup of tea because we are going to be here for a while...

When a person suffers with self-esteem issues it does not always mean they are uncomfortable with the way they look, they could in fact be uncomfortable with what they are and aren't good at, what decisions they make ect. When I have days like this I know that I am in a negative space in my own mind, because the way I perceive myself is completely different to how other people perceive me. When I am in a negative space my day normally goes like this:

But I am here to say hell no to those days because there are ways that you can counter act these feelings.

1. CUT OUT NEGATIVE PEOPLE. 
The first way to combat negative space is quite simply to surround yourself with positive people- friends and family alike. Make sure that everyone in your life supports you and your goals. If there is one thing I have learnt it is that negative people can make your self-esteem worst. Even if they are not bashing your dreams or insulting you personally they can still influence your mood. People who are bitter, jealous or angry can make you feel that way about yourself. The best thing to do when you find yourself in this situation is just to distance yourself from this person therefore their negativity will not be able to affect you anymore.

2. SPEND TIME WITH YOURSELF. 
Another step that you can put in place is to spend a little bit more time with yourself. Enjoy your own company do things that you enjoy doing. It doesn't matter what. It could be anything from reading and writing to drawing and painting. Meditation is also a good way to relax whilst in your own company. Like all relationships, your relationship with yourself takes time to grow. Don't expect an instant fix from this step but over time you will discover more and more about yourself and eventually improve your self-esteem.

3. EXERCISE.
This is more of a scientific approach. It is a known fact that exercise releases feel-good hormones and chemicals in your brain called endorphins. This gives your body the feeling of positivity and better self body image. If you really hate exercise, start off slow- go for a walk by yourself or do some morning stretches. Trust me you will feel better for it, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally!

4. SLEEP AND DIET.
Sleeping and food? That's something we all enjoy. However stuffing your face with pizza and having afternoon naps is not going to make you feel better about yourself. But having a healthy sleep pattern and balanced diet will. Try to not stay up into the early hours of the morning, instead go to bed at a sensible time that will allow you have at least eight hours of rest. A lack of sleep can cause you to have exaggerated negative feelings which can make your self-esteem worst. Steering clear of junk food or food high in artificial sugars will also improve your mind set. Artificial sugars can make you feel happy for an instance but in the long run they will make your body crash out and feel sluggish, not a feeling that helps.

I hope these tips will help you on your way to a happier, healthier you! However it is very important that I literate that sometimes people get down and that is okay-  it does not mean you have a mental health illness. But if you think you need help and guidance you should always consult a doctor. There are also many helpful mental health charities that you could contact too such as: mind, sane and rethink. Additionally there are many other helplines in the UK you can call like the samaritans.

But remember everyone, you are all beautiful!

*CIAO*

Misconceptions of an Introvert.

Welcome back.

I haven't posted in a little while but if I am honest it is because I haven't felt very inspired lately. At the moment I don't feel very fashion forward or feel very much into my beauty regimes. I just feel thoughtful. So I figured the best thing to do would be to let my thoughts out on here. 

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my personality and the misconceptions that come along with it. I always knew that I was a rather withdrawn person, especially in new situations. However it wasn't until I took the Myers Briggs personality test that I found I was truly introverted, massively. For those of you that don't know what the Myers Briggs test is, it is basically a personality test that defines four aspects of your personality and the outcome is one of 16 personalities. Anyway, if you want to know more you could probably Google it. 

The traditional definition of introvert is a term to describe someone whose motives and actions are directed inwards. Introverts also seem to be more preoccupied with their own thoughts and feelings. That is me. Through and through. However growing up introverted I have found that there are a lot of things that people don't really understand about me. I am not speaking for all introverts, these misconceptions I have encountered could also be caused by other elements of my personality, I'm not entirely sure, I am not a psychologist, just a girl with a passion for the mind who has a blog. Nonetheless I have created this list for fellow introverts to enjoy, also for extroverts who want to know why we (well mainly I) can be so strange.

Before we begin I just to lighten up this post a little. Throughout you will find some simple illustrations that I personally think help explain introversion or I just think are slightly amusing. Enjoy! 

1. I DO ENJOY BEING SOCIABLE.

Many people assume that introverts don't like going out with friends to have a good time. Not all introverted people are anxious of social situations. I actually really enjoy spending time with people be it at the cinema, restaurant, bar or outside. Just because I am an introvert that doesn't mean I am that person at the edge of a group nervously flicking through my phone, pretending to be busy so I do not have to involve myself. I can actually be quite the social butterfly once you get to know me.  

2. I AM NOT RUDE. I JUST HATE SMALL TALK. 

When I got to a certain age I found that many people's parents thought I that I was rude. I didn't really get this at first but now I am older I can see why. I would only speak to people (who weren't my friends) very minimally. I am not good at small talk. I am very awkward, I never know what to say and when I do say something it is almost never engaging just answering. I am not like this because I don't want to talk to you, I just cannot stand small talk. So what if the weather is beautiful outside? I promise I don't want to talk about anything too complex though, just something more interesting than the weather.  

3. I AM NOT SHY JUST SELECTIVE.
A huge misconception of introverts is that we are all incredibly shy and quiet. I can tell you, I am not a quiet person around people I am comfortable with, just ask my best friend. She will tell you I'm crazy. I'm just selective about who I completely be myself around. This is not because I don't want you as my friend. I just need a little more time to work you out and make sure that my personality won't be a shocking sight for you. Trust me this is better for both of us.

4. I DON'T HATE NOISE. I JUST HATE CHAOS.
Introverts are known for drawing their energy from alone time. Yes, I do really enjoy being by myself to re-charge but this doesn't mean that I can't work in a slightly more social, team orientated environment. I like noise whilst I work and I really enjoy working with a team. Sometimes I even think it can help me learn new things and come up with new ideas. However what I do hate with a passion is working in a chaotic environment. When things are messy, unorganised and extremely loud, quite honestly I just find this unproductive and extremely unhelpful.

5. I CAN LEAD. 

Many people often identify introverts as the followers throughout life never the leaders. But I am going to stand up for my fellow introverts and say we can lead just as well as anyone else once given the chance. This misconception of follower vs. leader comes along with the other misconceptions of being shy and unsocialable. Furthermore people assume that introverts are not assertive enough when it comes to leadership. Now, whilst we may not be very over bearing leaders we will be passionate about the project and always give it our all.

*CIAO*