A The Legend of Korra cosplayer who goes by the name Tranquil Ashes is determined to keep on following her burning passion in life despite comments from trolls.
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| A cosplayer who goes by the name Tranquil Ashes is determined to keep on following her burning passion in life despite comments from trolls (Picture: Tranquil Ashes/@TranquilAshes) |
A cosplayer has spoken out after being trolled with racist and ‘fat-phobic’ abuse in response to a viral picture of her in a superhero pose.
Anita Riggs, whose alter-ego is Tranquil Ashes, said she is ‘no stranger to bad comments’ but reaction to a picture of her in character crossed a line. She received a torrent of abuse about her size and look on social media and ended up blocking dozens of people. However Anita told Metro.co.uk she is determined to break new ground in cosplay, meaning ‘costume play’, which she says lacks diversity as with many other spheres of life.
The trolling began in April after she posted the picture in her Tranquil Ashes persona harnessing a ball of water while she was standing on rocks at a seafront. The ensemble was a homage to the titular character in The Legend of Korra, Nickelodeon's beloved animated series and follow-up to the network's iconic animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The abuse was posted on Facebook and Twitter after the image was shared thousands of times across the platforms. Anita said: ‘I am no stranger to bad comments or backwards opinions on my craft and person. This time, however, it was far more than I was used to.
Ever since I posted this cosplay last week the amount of bullying, death threats, harassment I've received is staggering. I'm being bullied to death. I'm tired. I deserve to be here, I am worthy, talented..but I'm bleeding from this. Like can ya'll stop. #black #plussize #cosplay pic.twitter.com/bu1XrOwdJN
— Tranquil Ashes (@TranquilAshes) April 26, 2021
‘No doubt there are ups and downs when your work manages some sort of virality.
‘It was disheartening because cosplay is really about fun and escapism and at the end of the day we all just want respect.’
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| A cosplayer has spoken out after being trolled and sent death threats over her size and look.(Picture: Tranquil Ashes/@TranquilAshes) |
The freelance make-up artist, from Baltimore, Maryland, received weeks of abuse after first posting the image in April 2021. ‘People were telling me I’m going to die because I’m not society’s ideal weight or telling me that I look like I ate the characters I portray or I’m the n***** version of something,’ she said. ‘Thankfully blocking and muting has solved those few incidents. It’s not less right.’
The creative initially reacted by sharing her dismay with her followers, which triggered a wave of support and compliments about the photoshoot. She wrote on Facebook: ‘Ever since I posted this cosplay last week the amount of bullying, death threat/saying in gonna die, harassment I’ve received is staggering.
‘I’m being bullied to death. I’m tired.
‘These are just a fraction of comments. I’ve blocked dozens of people. I deserve to be here, I am worthy, talented..but I had to vent and get this off my chest…I’m exhausted from this, I’m human too.’
Anita Riggs was original trolled over an image of herself posing as fantasy character Korra but has since received a deluge of supportive messages (Picture: Tranquil Ashes/@TranquilAshes)
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| Anita Riggs was original trolled over an image of herself posing as fantasy character Korra but has since received a deluge of supportive messages (Picture: Tranquil Ashes/@TranquilAshes) |
The plus-sized model then received heart from hundreds of supportive messages from people who appreciate her work. She told Metro.co.uk: ‘The onslaught of support has been truly overwhelming and humbling. It has reminded me of what I’ve always known.
‘That the people who are meant to be around you will be. My supporters realise that overall my work is well-regarded and valid.’
Anita says she has been ‘into nerdom and pop culture for as long as I can remember’ before she began doing make-up for herself and others. She was inspired to take up cosplay seven years ago after reading a book by Yaya Han, considered the artform’s most famous online exponent for her striking costumes.
Cosplay revolves around fans recreating their favourite characters, with graphic novels, anime, manga and video games being the main influences. Explaining her character’s name, Anita said: ‘I’ve always been partial to oxymoronic names. Tranquil Ashes is a play on the Phoenix-rising rebirth and glory. It’s a nod to my resilience through adversity, the burning of my passions and as a goal to imprint my stamp on the world.’
A cosplayer who goes by the name Tranquil Ashes is organising a gala event for 2022 as she overcomes the trolls (Picture: Tranquil Ashes/@TranquilAshes)
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| A cosplayer who goes by the name Tranquil Ashes is organising a gala event for 2022 as she overcomes the trolls (Picture: Tranquil Ashes/@TranquilAshes) |
Anita is now working on her next cosplay gala, entitled The Cosgala, which she plans for 2022. She said she is ‘super excited for my future deep dive into my art passions’ and to increase the scope of representation in the cultural realms outside the mainstream.
Anita said: ‘The lack of representation exists just as prominent in the nerd and geek space as any. We need more BIPOC [black, indigenous, and other people of color] bodies on Fandom feeds. More in influencing, sewing, photography, kink, press and voices.
‘We are out there and deserve to be featured and respected and paid for our crafts and contributions.
‘It’s 2021 and we have no choice but to do better.’
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra on Paramount+ and Netflix!
More Nick: Nickelodeon Establishes Avatar Studios; Announces Animated 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Movie!
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