Mystic Being shared her interpretation of the Marvel Rivals version of Emma Frost. However, it wasn't just the costume that became the topic of discussion. The plus-size cosplayer got thousands of hateful comments from people who were criticizing her size and saying that she shouldn't cosplay the character.
The experience turned something she enjoyed creating into a debate about her body. But Mystic Being (real name Meagan Starke) was not about to let strangers decide for her which characters she could portray. She would rather pay attention to people who appreciated her work than to the negative comments.
When Cosplay Becomes a Debate About Body Size
Mystic Being started cosplaying in 2021 when she discovered how much she enjoyed dressing up as her favorite characters. Since then, she has explored characters from various forms of entertainment, including games, comics and films. However, she has also received criticism from others for being a plus-size cosplayer. Some have told her that she is too fat to portray certain characters.
These comments have questioned whether she should portray characters because of her body size. Her Emma Frost cosplay was particularly difficult. She shared her interpretation of the Marvel Rivals version of Emma Frost and got thousands of hateful comments about her size. What she created for fun became a topic of debate over her looks.
Cosplay isn't just about looking exactly like the original character for Mystic Being, though. It's about having fun bringing a character to life.
Choosing Support Over Negative Comments
One of the difficulties Mystic Being has faced is dealing with criticism during her career. People can say anything they want about her online, but it's up to her to decide which comments to focus on. She prefers to appreciate the support she receives rather than spend her time on hateful messages.
“I handle that by focusing on the love. There are people who support me, appreciate my interpretations, and enjoy what I create,” Mystic Being explains.
Those supporters enjoy her character interpretations, appreciate the creativity in her work and encourage her to keep going. This encouragement has helped her to focus on something she really loves. So when it comes to body-shaming, Mystic Being's answer has been simple: she continues to cosplay. She has already portrayed over 100 characters and doesn't want to let strangers discourage her from trying a new one.
Why a Perfect Costume Isn't Necessary
Mystic Being thinks people shouldn't have to meet certain expectations before cosplaying. You don't have to look exactly like a character, have a particular body type or wear a perfect costume.
Her suggestion is to pick a character you love and allow yourself to have fun. It's a message for people with varying body sizes, experience levels and creative skills. Some people may be trying cosplay for the first time. Others may have years of experience or simply love creating their very own costumes.
Mystic Being feels there's space for them all. She wants people to feel comfortable exploring characters they like, without needing everyone's approval.
“Choose a character you love and give yourself permission to have fun. There is room for different sizes, skill levels, and interpretations,” she says.
Bringing Unexpected Characters to Life
The characters that Mystic Being selects are one of the most interesting aspects of her work. She has transformed herself into the Marvel Rivals version of Emma Frost, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Bride of Frankenstein and Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These characters look very different and are from different fictional worlds. For Mystic Being, this diversity is part of the fun.
She is a fan of anime and Pokémon, but doesn't want to restrict her cosplay to a specific genre or style. Sometimes, the character people least expect her to choose is the one she finds most exciting to portray. She enjoys exploring new styles and looks, which is an important part of her creative journey.
Continuing to Create Despite Criticism
Since 2020, Mystic Being has been building her social media presence and currently has a combined following of over seven million across her social media platforms.
In addition to cosplay, she also makes content related to streaming, anime, Pokémon and travel. In 2023, she also started crafting some of her own cosplay costumes, providing her with another way to express her creativity. She plans to keep exploring more characters to portray and improve her costume-making skills. While she has received criticism online, she does not want it to take away from the fun of cosplay.
She also wants her journey to inspire those who may be hesitant to try cosplay. Her message is that cosplay is open to people of different sizes, skill levels and interpretations.
Finding characters that you love and having fun bringing them to life without letting negative comments stop you is what is most important to Mystic Being.
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