Fred, you're suggesting that because she has large breasts and does cosplay (in which characters are frequently even bustier than her) that she is a "borderline pornstar". Classy. Yes, she is using her sex-appeal, but that doesn't make her A: a porn star, B: any less talented.
First, I never questioned her costume making talent. I do question the true motive of the heaps of accolades she receives for said talent. I'm sure some it, is actually genuine. Just as I'm sure that there are some people who actually read PlayBoy for the articles.
Second, does sex sell? Absolutely. Is she using her sex appeal to sell her brand? Absolutely. But you know what -- the internet is full of women selling their sex appeal, as a "brand", for $19.95 a month - they're called internet porn stars. Does she go that far? No, that's why I said "borderline".
I didn't say she was wrong for doing it. Marketing execs have been doing this for decades. But let's be honest and call things as they truly are. There are millions of costumes that don't show off cleavage, that she can choose from. And, as a smart marketing move, she chooses the one that best displays her assets. All I'm saying is that, don't confuse accolades for being sexy, in an age where sex sells, for accolades for pure brilliance of design and workmanship. There are plenty of people, on this site alone, who I guarantee, could out-craft her.
Let's see if she can craft two of the same exact outfits - one for herself, and one for a woman, who is 5' and 350lbs, and see if both costumes get the same praise and coverage on the internet. After all, it's supposed to be about her ability to craft incredible costumes, correct?
Dagnie - didn't people cosplay before YaYa? What did they do before she told them how to build anything? Were they all using paper mache and water colors? I guess it's good for cosplayers that it took someone as beautiful as YaYa to bring this hobby to light, to the "normies", but people have been cosplaying since Flash Gordon was a TV serial. Find me one kid who didn't play dress-up and pretend to be some character from their favorite TV show/movie.
I don't costume, never had the desire to, and I can't see the desire coming anytime soon. But I have been building prop replicas for the better part of 30 years. Ever since I first suck a cardboard tube in an empty flashlight body and made my first lightsaber. Once I started getting into more complex props and model building, I started using automotive paint for their high gloss, and hardened finishes. And that's damn near a full 2 decades before I ever heard of YaYa. I absolutely refuse to believe I was that far ahead of the creativity curve.
-Fred
