To Lewd or Not To Lewd: Thoughts on Sexiness in Cosplay + Several *Ridiculously* Sexy Cosplays
Warning: Before reading, please note that this post will include several NSFW (not safe for work) images. If scantily clad cosplay antics disturb you, or if you can’t safely browse without risking your job or people in your Uber pool judging you, just wait to read it until you can do so without the negative social reprecussions, ya dig?)
~Management (DeLa Doll)
When it comes to the cosplay community, the act of “lewding” (a term typically used within the cosplay and fanart communities which refers to making sexy or risque cosplay versions of fictional characters and even inanimate objects) certain cosplays and characters can be polarizing. From sexy Pokemon cosplays to risque versions of well known characters, everyone seems to have an opinion on the topic. We’ve even seen the rise of this trend with sexy, humanized fanart of things like the Polar Vortex of 2018, the first picture of a Black Hole released less than a month ago, and even the very planet we live on. I personally have my limits on what I find amusing and what I consider to be in poor taste or crossing a line, but I’ve also done some sexy cosplays myself because, well, I wanted to. I don’t really need another reason, and I could go into how it’s helped me become a more body positive and confident person, or how I got a kick out of cosplaying “Polar Vortex Chan,” laughing as I covered myself in purple body paint and glitter for the sake of a meme, but I don’t really have to give some in-depth explanation to validate how I choose to present myself or what I choose to cosplay at any given time.
Besides, if Halloween costume shops can mass produce highly-sexualized “Sexy Crayon” and “Sexy Shrek” variants specifically for women’s costumes year after year, why shouldn’t lady-cosplayers themselves be able to join in (whether it’s just to kick it up a notch to highlight the absurdity of it all, or just because they like to be sexy of their own free will for whatever reason they choose)?
Personally, I like that so many of us have found a way to have fun with a variation of the “sexy female costumes” trope by taking matters into our own hands because there’s a difference between:
- Exercising control of one’s own sexual and creative agency for personal enjoyment and benefit (empowerment)
As opposed to…
- Allowing the expectations of others (be they corporate entities or angry internet folks) to dictate how you should and shouldn’t present yourself because you aren’t seen as a person with your own agency and free will (objectification)
Basically, sexiness in cosplay should be a choice, and not a requirement. I’m fine with whatever choice people choose to make concerning their own cosplays, and I will continue to lewd or not lewd at my own discretion. With this in mind, I’m going to end this post on a lighthearted note with some particularly hilarious choices submitted by my wonderfully talented fellow cosplayers (and also myself)!
~DeLa Doll
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DeLa Doll is a culture writer, cosplayer, and artist based in Florida. She has been writing professionally since 2016, with some of her work being featured on sites like HuffPo and /Film. She is an advocate for meaningful diversity and representation in media, a gamer, a mom, and an avid user of DIY hair dye.
