Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana The Great
Hi Diana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
To summarize it… I grew up as a nerd, loving all things Marvel and DC. I also discovered Anime at an early age, specifically Sailor Moon, and I’ve been a fan ever since. While growing up, I never knew that there were ways to express your appreciation of your respective fandoms, nor was I aware that I wasn’t the only one who fit into that category of nerd with a deep appreciation for comics, movies, shows, etc. The admiration stayed with me through my adult years where I eventually discovered crafting/sewing, and eventually there was an overlap of creating my own costumes to express myself and my appreciation for a character. Now, I get to be the characters I loved when I was little.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are definitely challenges that have arisen. The biggest challenge is finding a place to fit in, in an already saturated area. Sometimes, I am the only one that looks like me in that space, be it because I am a plus sized woman, a black woman, or an older woman. It can get disheartening to hear “you’re too fat to be that character,” or “you should just stick with the black characters” or “aren’t you too old to be doing this? I do my best to not let it get me down, but there are moments here and there where it gets difficult.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I consider myself a cosplayer. I specialize in costuming, wig work, sewing, embroidery, fabric dying, painting, foam work, resin, thermoplastics, makeup, face paint and more. I am also a master level cosplayer, as I have won a variety of awards through the years, and now serve as a cosplay contest judge, cosplay guest, panelist, moderator, mentor and educator.
I am most proud of the opportunity to give back to the community that’s given so much to me. I once was a beginner cosplayer, with no experience and a costume that fell apart the second I made it to the convention. The same people that I looked up to and who lifted me up in the beginning of my cosplay career, are now my peers and beloved friends. It’s an absolute honor to see my “cosplay kids” who were once just starting out, flourish in the development of their skills and advancing in rank to be intermediate or master level cosplayers. It’s the best experience ever to watch them grow.
What sets me apart from others is that I truly do this, for the greater good and the good of my community. From Kansas City and beyond, if not for the cosplay community that I’ve encountered, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My overarching goal is to show that cosplay is truly for everyone, regardless of age, physical appearance, skill level or gender. It’s important to me to be the representation that I want to see; to show that little brown girls can be whomever they want to be. Even if it’s just one person, knowing that they did their best because I helped to inspire them is all the gratitude that I’ll ever need.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
You won’t be perfect right out of the gate. Everything takes time, practice and patience. Pace yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It’s all a learning experience — even at my level now I still make mistakes.
What I wish I knew when I was starting out? That you don’t have to pull an all nighter to get it done. Pacing myself and managing my workload were the two biggest struggles that I experience as a cosplayer. I now have a set routine where I will take regular sewing breaks, or call it quits after a certain time of day. No good decision in crafting comes after 1:00 a.m. LOL
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.dianathegreat.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/diana.the.great
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dianathegreat1
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/DianaTheGreat
