I have been a victim of the press and its sensationalism. A few years ago my grandfather was murdered in his own home. Because my Uncle is a Police Officer, the local news and media was all over the story, calling it "Father of a Police Officer Murdered In Home". Dealing with the death of a loved one is hard enough but its a million times worse when they are taken from you. The press kept hounding my mother who unwillingly became our family spokesperson to help get the word out to catch the murderer. The press was very insensitive. I broke down in hysterics when I saw my grandfathers body being carried out of his home in a body bag on television. When it was time for the funeral, the reporters and camera men had surrounded the church, snapping shots of anything they could get. They went into a frenzy when my Uncles Police District arrived to pay their respects along with the Special Crimes Unit. After the casket was loaded into the hearse, a camera man jumped in my face to snap a shot of me walking with my mother. She grabbed my hand. I turned my tear stained face away so he couldnt get the shot. They didnt care about me or my family and many of them reported things that werent true. But it didnt matter. They just wanted to get a story. 
Safe to say, I dont like reporters very much and strive to be different from them when it comes to my own writing. I am going to be very clear in making my point: The shooting in Colorado was the fault of James Eagan Holmes. Not Hollywood, not Batman and not the cosplay community. New reports from the police are saying that this was done with "calculation and deliberation". His apartment was rigged with explosives and he murdered 12 people and wounded 58 others. Unconfirmed reports stating that he was inspired by the Joker are irrelevant. He wanted to kill. Hes a murderer, just like Jack the Ripper and other madmen before him. I can tell you personally that you cannot reason with madness and chances are you will never get your answer as to why it happened. I still dont know why my 80 year old Grandfather was murdered; why he was chopped up in his own home. I can tell you that it wont change anything even if I knew the answer. In all honestly, I dont care. I dont want to hear the excuses of the man who took my Grandfather away. NOTHING will justify that and NOTHING will justify the shooting in Colorado. Like Micheal Cane memorable said in "The Dark Knight:""Some men just want to watch the world burn."
Im going to be completely honest and human and say that it did get to me. The negativity and racism gave me moments of weakness and I wanted to give up. Every hero, every princess has that chapter in their story where they want to walk away but in the end, they pick themselves up and keep moving forward. Thats what I did. I wasnt going to allow racists cowards who hid behind their computers dictate what I should and should not do, who I should and should not dress as. The color of my skin is not a "problem". It is not a disability. I have every right to costume just as much as anyone else no matter their age, race, gender, religion or weight. And I costume for one person only; myself. This is about my self expression and my creativity.
I first tried on the metal bikini (actually it was the rubber version made by Rubies) in 2009 at the request of a local radio station I was doing camera work for. While I had the costume on loan I took advantage of the opportunity and took some photos and posted them online. My pictures caught the attention of the right people and I was offered a job as an official Slave Leia model for the 2010 San Diego Comic Con and Star Wars Celebration (which sadly, I had to decline). Return of the Jedi was the only Star Wars film my family owned growing up and my siblings and I watched the VHS on a daily basis. I never thought I would grow up and literally be Princess Leia. I was more than thrilled to become an official model for Gentle Giant Studios. 
Since the Slave Leia PSA there has been a number of articles and Blogs (written mostly by women) crucifying anyone who has worn the metal bikini, labeling it a "problem" and "concern" at conventions. True there are times where there appears to be crowds of Slave Leias but its simply because those women were hired to be there. Things like the Slave Gathering, which takes place every year at the San Diego Comic Con (and have become legendary in addition to being a crowd pleasing event) have lured such celebrities as Olivia Munn and Adrianne Curry. It also receives massive press. One might complain that the metal bikini is too revealing when in fact, it shows as much as a two piece swimsuit at the beach. Ive seen women wear far less in cosplay even going as far as applying nothing but pasties over their bare breasts. Wheres the public outcry to ban those particular costumes at shows? Some may argue that were actually promoting slavery or sex slavery and that Leia was a victim who was sexually abused by Jabba the Hut. Unless theres a version of Return of the Jedi with a deleted rape scene that I missed, those theories and assumptions are best described as laughable. Stick with the facts; yes Leia was a prisoner and forced to wear that outfit as she watched her friends and allies suffer but did she sit there and play victim? No. 
This princess waited until the time was right and turned the tables on her captor, killed him and won her freedom. Its convenient that critics fail to recognize Leias accomplishment and bravery because of what shes wearing. Its no different than one women judging another because of the clothes she has on. Im often told by associates that they are surprised at how "nice" or "intelligent" I am for a model. Once again this is an example of stereotyping. People are accusing Leia cosplayers of not being "real" geeks without knowing that womans story or reason for putting the metal bikini on. Fingers are being pointed with accusations of us demeaning ourselves when in fact, we chose to wear it. No one forced us. Heres a life lesson for those who say were offensive; just dont look. To those who say the naysayers deserve to be heard, my response is that I dont deserve to be attacked and judged for the costume I choose to wear. Its just as easy for me to accuse someone of being jealous as it is for someone to accuse me of being an attention whore. We can play the blame game all night people. 
How is it that a princess who fought for her friends, beliefs and freedom offends the eye but not the dozens of cosplayers walking around dressed as murderers, thieves and rapists? Are you enraged at the sight of the Green Goblin because he murdered a helpless blonde atop a bridge? Do Joker cosplayers upset you because hes murdered children and paralyzed others? And what about Dr. Light? He raped Enlongated Mans wife on the Watch Tower. With incidents occurring at conventions such as raised ticket prices, the stealing of badges and assaults (such as last years pen stabbing incident at the San Diego Comic Con), youre biggest concern is a woman dressed as Slave Leia? Its time to get your priorities straight, let go of the hate and work on your self esteem. 
