What people say
We can't do what we do without all of our
incredible fans and Cosplay Spotlights.
Kind Words
(Go follow them all!)
I love being with The Variant because I'm able to meet a ton of new cosplayers to become friends with and collaborate with other cosplayers!!! I love doing photoshoots with The Variant cause they make me feel very calm and comfortable cause I will panick if I don't know a pose, but hey, whenever I don't, yall have one for me ready!! It so much fun everyone is funny and great to be around!!!
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@ChompSharkie
You guys are awesome because you're chill and fun. I miss you guys so much!! Even though I've never worked the booth I remember one Ichi y'all let me hang out there anyway and I had a great time. I think that was the same time y'all had the bunny hutch photo meet, which honestly gave me soooo much confidence. I would've never bought something like that if y'all hadn't put it on lol. Other people just bring photo booths to a convention, y'all bring community.
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@Puramu_fox
I love The Variant! This was my first time ever getting professional cosplay pictures! The staff was so nice and I loved hearing about their mission of giving everyone the opportunity to have nice pictures done! I can't wait to see you guys at a future convention!
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@madzcozplayz
We love The Variant! Y'all are such a kind, welcoming crew who makes *every* cosplayer feel appreciated and supported. Not only that, but you all are such fierce advocates for a safe community and we are so grateful! Thank you all for being you!
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@Kombat.Kate.Cosplay
I’m so excited for the new website! Thank you for all the hard work you’ve put into it! :)
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@camellia.heart
I enjoy being in The Variant because I got to meet a lot of really fun people and do some really cool shoots. I've definitely stepped out of my comfort zone (which isn't a bad thing) and I love the connections I've made here!
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@Contoast.cosplays
I have been cosplaying a long time and have worked with and been a part of several groups. By far, the Variant is the most welcoming, kind, and non-judgemental group I have ever been with. I enjoy working the photobooth with them at cons and seeing all the amazing costumes that people have poured their love into. I enjoy photoshoots with them because I have zero idea what to do and the photographers are so patient with me and make me look more beautiful than anything I see in the mirror. I enjoy being able to reach out to any of the members at any time and having a listening ear. And I especially enjoy being with a group of people that like me for who I am and allow me to be unapologetically me. No judgement. Just encouragement and love.
❤!
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@bunnikins.cos
Thank you guys for making a safe space for me and so many other black cosplayers. I am so excited when I get to stop by and take pictures with you guys at events because everyone is always so welcoming. It always feels safe, and I don’t worry that someone is going to make me feel bad for the color of my skin. I was physically assaulted by a man at a convention when I was a teenager, and the man was so angry that I was cosplaying Sailor Mars when she ‘isn’t black’ he ripped my wig off and called me terrible names, and told me to stick to cosplaying people who looked like me. I planned to cosplay Sailor Mars again for the first time a few years ago, and I did my first real trial run of it at one of the anime markets you guys were at in Raleigh I believe? I wanted to see if I could do it before I went to Animazement. I had my hair picked out in an afro, because my husband convinced me to make the cosplay mine, and wear my natural hair as a way to say f-you to the guy who ripped my wig off. You stopped me and told me I looked incredible and told me to come visit the booth to get some free pictures. I was terrified, because I had already been dealing with racism from the tik-tok cosplay community, and I couldn’t handle heartbreak again with my Sailor Mars. The pictures your photographer took gave me confidence I hadn’t felt in so long. I wasn’t just ‘black Sailor Mars’ I was a Sailor Mars that other little black girls would get to look at and say “I want to cosplay that too. I want to be like her.” So thank you, for not only being a safe space for everyone, but for boosting so many black cosplayers, especially during this hard time of losing a fellow black cosplayer due to the cruel people in the community. ❤️
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@BABYGEECOSPLAYS
Thank you for everything you did for me, Rj. I appreciate you more than words can express. You gave me confidence I would have never found in my own cosplays more than ever. I appreciate you and your mission. Thank you. You're amazing.
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