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Black Cosplayer Breaks Boundaries with Diverse Array of Creative Costumes

By Sara Barnes on February 23, 2017

black cosplay from #28daysofblackcosplay

Hermione From Harry Potter

There are many ways to celebrate Black History Month, and some cosplayers are doing so with #28DaysofBlackCosplay. The hashtag was originally created in 2015 by fellow cosplayer Chaka Cumberbatch with the goal of promoting inclusion and breaking down racism in the cosplay community. She explained to BuzzFeed, “It began as a way for us as Black cosplayers to celebrate and showcase our own work in the midst of a subculture where we often felt passed over and ignored.”

One woman also participating in this black cosplay challenge—and rocking the cosplay world in general—is a 21-year-old who goes by the name Kiera Please. The Virginia native transforms herself into a myriad of characters that range from cartoons to books to animated films. Some of the looks are elaborate, with fur garments and full bodysuits to match the persona she’s emulating. Other cosplay characters, like Sadness from the Pixar film Inside Out, are makeup intensive and feature a skillfully applied layer of blue face paint—with a bright wig to match.

But no matter the outfit, the essence of these characters is reflected in Kiera’s costume and poses. We’re looking forward to what she comes up with for the rest of #28DaysofBlackCosplay—follow along on her Instagram.