Daily Inspiration: Meet Diana The Great

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana The Great.

Hi Diana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well… I suppose once upon a time, I was a young nerd who loved all things Marvel, and DC. And then, there was Sailor Moon, on Cartoon Network’s Toonami in the early afternoons. Perhaps my life changed from that point on, until I discovered that I could do many things myself.

Also, somewhere along the line I also found the true magic of cosplay, conventions, makeup, and the ability to embrace all of these things that I love as a full-fledged almost 40-something adult. I also am a mom of a pretty cool teenager, sister to a badass brother, and daughter to the neatest dad in the world. (He just passed away on July 5th, but I tend to think he’s still hanging around in the form of sunshine.

Or soft rain on those sleepy Sunday mornings.) It’s because of my dad that I have my cosplay handle. Our family motto: “Not the first, not the last, but still: Great.”

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?
Cosplay is an inadvertently expensive habit to have. Sometimes we get stuck in the mindset that “it’s cheaper to make it!” and then we wind up spending twice as much on materials and supplies, as well as the blood, sweat, and tears.

In addition, when you come from a circle/place outside of that community, there’s a lot of backlash and judgment that you encounter. “You’re too old to dress up.” “That character isn’t black.” “You’re weird.” “You’re too fat to be that character.” “You’re really trying to be a superhero, huh?”

I’ve had my feelings hurt quite a few times through the years. But I do my best to keep from letting it get me down.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well, I suppose I’m just a not-so-regular person that happens to have an affinity for cosplay. Or creating. There’s a little bit of makeup in there, and then crafting, and… I suppose it all melds together. My day job is working in the financial division, but that’s not anything exciting. I would think that I specialize in crafting in some means since sewing and creation can both fall under that umbrella. DIY things perhaps.

I’ve created wigs from scratch. I’ve hand-dyed fabric to be the perfect hue that I need. I’ve created dresses for events the night before. Just recently I took a foray into hat making because I couldn’t find a big red floppy hat the day before my father’s memorial services, and it was a need that I had deep within my soul to be the one with a big floppy hat on in his honor. (It’s a thing in my family to wear the big hat to the special event).

I think that I’m known for my love of cosplay and DIY types of things, and that’s what makes me come to mind if the subject should come up. Recently someone shared on social media that they were looking for someone in the greater KC area to help with tailoring a cosplay, and immediately my friends who were his mutuals tagged me in the status.

I spoke with him and figured out that it was going to be his very first cosplay altogether; that sort of thing is my favorite thing to encounter because I can help to set the stage for what a beginner cosplayer can expect. I can give sources for products, materials, tutorials, or just be a consult along the way, and remind them that they are empowered to cosplay whatever they want (so long as it does not offend any marginalized groups or ethnicities.)

As for what I’m most proud of, it’s hard to say. I know a little about a lot of things. But I don’t want to brag on it wholeheartedly, you know? I try to be humble because I know that there are people who look to me for inspiration or look to me to ask what to do next. Or there are people who just like to look. And that’s fine too. Maybe I’m proud of just being me. I think that’s about right.

Finally, what sets me apart from others? You know, when I see that statement, I then think, “Does this mean that I compare myself to others? Is it a competition?” And in a sense, cosplay can be a competition; I’ve busted my ass with minimal sleep not having an idea of what to do or how to do it but overcome with the urge to just… DO it.

And then that’s when I win awards. But I suppose, what would set me apart, where there are no awards involved; no recognition, no fame– what would set me apart from another cosplayer or creative in this community, is that I do what I do, from the heart.

And even if I make one person happy, or show one little girl with brown skin that she can be anything she wants to be; if I can inspire one person without even trying, because they simply say that I did it, and that let them know it was okay to do it too; I’m good. That’s the biggest award I could ever ask for.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My son is one of my biggest cheerleaders. I’m so delighted that he has the freedom and ability to embrace his creativity and nerdiness and love of cosplay and pop culture, unabashedly. I know that I would have gotten judgment from a few folks when I was his age if I was as into cosplay and such as I am now.

He is oftentimes the person behind the camera getting the behind-the-scenes footage for tutorials, and those really creative photography shots that you would never know were actually at the park or the backyard. I love that he supports me as much as he does; I can’t tell you how many parent-teacher conferences I’ve attended where the teachers are halfway expecting me to be in costume because of how much he’s hyped me up lol. He’s a great kid though.

Another person who deserves credit; is my father. I was confident that he was going to be one of those people who would think that making costumes was weird, but he simply called me the “genius at work.” And when I brought home my first award, he was through the roof (and pissed as hell that someone else beat me lol.) Even if he didn’t understand the fandoms or the facepaint or the different props, he was always so proud of me, and I’m so glad that he loved me as fiercely as he did.

My brother is also someone who is fiercely protective. It’s not often these days that I endure negativity in relation to cosplay; it’s a hobby after all. But I received a rude comment on one of my posts, from a stranger, and my brother was ready to set. It. OFF. I apparently have a few fans in his coworkers, and because of my sewing skills, they look for the new and funky facemasks that he rocks because I made them.

Two of my biggest cheerleaders would be KoalaCosplay and TheCosplayDad. At the very beginning of my cosplay career, I hand-made my first cosplay from scratch, and naturally, it fell apart at the convention. I thought that I had failed, but they gave me nothing but positive encouragement, and a little constructive criticism, and lifted my confidence.

So much so that I challenged myself to my very first cosplay competition soon thereafter, and took the judge’s choice. (The same cosplay competition that my father was so proud of but adamant that I should have taken best overall, tee hee.) The rest is history. Not many people know about my very very humble beginnings of being a cosplayer, but I give them full credit for helping me to get to where I am now.

My best friend also is one of my advocates, cheerleaders, and all-around support. She is there virtually every step of the way. She is also my sanity and my brain, on those long nights of crafting and limited sleep, reminding me to rest, or be sure to eat. She is my right hand at any convention, intentionally bringing an empty backpack so that I can fill it with my junk.

In fact, her youngest daughter has been with us at so many conventions and has seen me in all kinds of shades of facepaint, that she told her kindergarten teacher she wanted to be a costume designer when she grows up, because *I* make costumes.

I also have a plethora of friends and advocates online; my Lore Olympus mod family, my fanfic friends, and my YouTube friends; there are so many people that I could name but I fear I would reach the word capacity for this field if I continued. Regardless, I have some great people in my community, and I’m so grateful for the impact that they have on my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.dianathegreat.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/diana.the.great
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dianathegreat1
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dianathegreat1
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/DianaTheGreat

Image Credits
AleaLovely, C. Mason, and Sam Pho