When you have a creative mind and love being active there are many outlet sources available. Some will do TikTok videos, some will write blogs or create a Pinterest board, some people pursue the entertainment industry. Cree aka Brown.Suga.Outlaw is not just a cosplayer, but an actress and influencer on different platforms as well.
Please introduce yourself to the readers.
My name is Cree Michelle Rogers aka Brown.Suga.Outlaw! I am a cosplaying actress with the Usualrangers5 and Digital Content Influencer with Live Like Locals Savannah.
How would you define cosplay? What is your favorite part of it? What are your principles of cosplay?
Cosplay is a fully immersive hobby where someone becomes a character they love! It also has the potential to introduce so many people and skills to anyone willing to put themselves out there!
I love the process of creating a costume and watching something I may have seen in a video game or in a show, slowly come to life.
I believe people are able to cosplay whatever they want, but my personal principles are to honor the source material. Even when I am recreating someone’s fan art, I prefer to pay attention to the details made by the creator. My cosplay is only good because the creator is so awesome enough to come up with the concept!
Please tell us your favorite cosplay memory.
I have a lot of memories where I am dressed as Princess Tiana in normal places like grocery stores and little girls lose their minds! But it doesn’t top the moment where a little girl saw me dressed as Storm and told her mom to tell me that she thought I was a pretty princess.
What sort of music/food/drink do you have when working through the night at an outfit?
Gummy bears, Twizzlers, Yoohoo, and Kroger Brand Pineapple Orange Juice (yes, specifically this one).
What are some of your favorite anime [animated] shows or manga [comic] series and why?
Uuuuuuugh!!! This question is so difficult! I love a lot of Slice of life anime that have a twist of magic like “Kobayashi-San no maid” (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid) or “Kyokai no Kanata” but I also love dark anime like “Magical Girl Site” and “Selector“. Honestly, a show has me if it has strong characters that grow and beautiful art!
As a POC cosplayer have you experienced any challenges? How did you overcome these challenges?
Since I cosplay predominantly Black characters, my experience is a little different than most. I don’t get attacked as often for cosplaying characters outside of my race but I still have problems finding accessories to match my skin. For example, I would love to find some arm sleeves to cover the wires going up my arm when I cosplay Imani. Unfortunately, those [are] incredibly hard to find along with prosthetics that match well.
How would you encourage fellow POC to cosplay characters they love?
I want all POC to remember that at the end of the day, they need to have fun! You don’t need to be competition caliber to enjoy yourself. Cosplay the way that makes you feel comfortable and happy!
What changes do you hope to see within the community in the future?
I want to see people be able to leave others alone or at least be respectful. No matter what you have to say, there is no need to bring down someone else’s day with your negative comments. People are allowed their opinions, sure, but unless provoked in a negative way, there is no need to put those comments out there!
