Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Starnes.
Hi Andrea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I am a cosplayer and customer who has been in the community for 20 years. As the middle five kids, we spent a lot of time creating and being encouraged by our parents. Halloween was our dad’s birthday, so we always went all out for the holiday. When I was in high school, I learned to sew from my mom. I began making costumes when we went to the Star Wars Celebration in 2002 and became hooked.
In 2016, I joined the local volunteer group Cause-Play Memphis, putting my love of dressing up to use entertaining children of all ages. That same year, I began using my knowledge to costume youth theatre productions for Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center, where I worked with them for four years. Just last year, in September, I started a twice-monthly live streamed online show, the Cosplay Cafe.
My co-hosts and I interview a different cosplayer each episode, discussing the community and experiences while sharing photos of viewers that fit the theme we are covering. Cosplay is a huge part of who I am. I cosplay from comic books, video games, anime, manga, Disney, and my own original designs. I definitely don’t see myself stopping any time soon.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Overall, my journey as a cosplayer, customer, and crafter has been mostly easy. The main obstacles can sometimes be material, like the cost to make the costumes I want can make it difficult to finish as many as I want since I do still have to be responsible and pay bills and take care of everyday life.
It can be difficult finding traction in the community, as cosplay has become a more common, household hobby, causing social media to be saturated to the point you get lost in the mix. But I have good friends and family that support me and even cosplay with me, and my volunteer work means more than any likes online.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
While I am a retail manager in my everyday life, I am an artist and customer through and through. In the cosplay and crafting community, I have become known for my sewing work and detailed costumes. While I have done props and other things for costumes, I am a seamstress first and foremost.
I pride myself on well-made, long-lasting pieces that can stand up to lots of wear. Before I began working as a manager and doing long hours, I used to take on costume commission work, making bespoke, 100% custom-made costumes for people. I have sent costumes all over the USA, Europe, the UK, and Australia in the time I have been crafting for others. Seeing people happily wearing my creations is such a rush.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Positivity. The cosplay community can have some toxic pockets in it, and more than anything, I strive to be someone who encourages others, whether they be novice or veterans. I always want others to feel I am someone safe to talk with and want to boost them up and remind them that cosplay is supposed to be fun.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagam.com/mehdia_raiise
- Facebook: facebook.com/mehdiaraiise
- Other: linktr.ee/mehdia_raiise
Image Credits
Cliff Nordman, Paige Thompson, Toy Robot Visuals, and Garrett Dunnewold
