📖Let’s start at the beginning.
I was always a fighter—literally. As a kid, when someone bullied me, I fought back. Hard. I lived in the principal’s office. One day, my principal made a deal with me: if I could go one month without getting into a fight, I could pick something from the treasure chest.
There was this baller butterfly pen I had my soul set on. 🦋 I was like, “LET’S DO THIS!”
The bullies? Oh, they found out. They worked overtime to break me—throwing my lunch on the floor, kicking my chair, ripping up my homework, shooting spitballs, pulling my hair, tripping me—you name it. But I was laser-focused on that pen. I stayed super Gandhi-like (okay, maybe Sailor Moon channeling Gandhi). And I did it. I made it the whole month.
So there I was, called into the principal’s office to claim my epic, badass butterfly pen. Not only was I stoked, but I was so proud I had kept myself in check. I strutted back into class, pen in hand, feeling like a legend. My teacher made an announcement and I was thinking, “SUCK IT, BULLIES!”
But later that day, when the teacher left the room, one of those bullies walked over to my desk, grabbed the butterfly pen, and snapped the butterfly clean off the top. 💔
And y’all… I snapped him like he snapped my pen. I completely lost it. I beat this kid to a pulp and broke his third-grade jerkface nose. I got pulled off him and sent straight to the principal’s office—again.
I didn’t say a word. I just showed her my broken pen.
And she cried. Not because I was in trouble—but because she had been so proud of how far I’d come. That moment crushed me more than any punishment ever could. I felt like I had let down the one adult who truly believed I could be better.
I remember going home that night and staying up the whole time, feeling guilty. So guilty. Sure, I was pushed past my limit—but that didn’t excuse it. Because I’d also hurt someone who took time and effort to help me grow.
Throughout the rest of elementary and middle school, I still stumbled (as humans do), but I slowly got it together. By high school? I was a straight-A, honor society, goody two-shoes. I got into a great college. I landed my dream job. And I made a new promise:
✨ I would do my best to never again hurt someone—physically or emotionally. ✨
I always worshipped superheroes. And after that day, I decided I wanted to be one, too. Not because of powers or capes, but because of what they stood for. My positivity, passion, and kindness would be my strength. I’d stay in control, even when things got hard.
And that’s what I carry with me to this day—especially when hate rolls in.
I remember when the hate comments started rolling in on my cosplay.
That was the moment I realized—oh snap, I’ve officially made it. 😂 I still laugh thinking about how seriously some folks took things. It felt like some bizarre rite of passage… like the cosplay gods looked down and said, “She’s ready.”
And honestly? That moment made me laugh. Hard. Because deep down, I knew—this was it. My rite of passage. I had arrived. 😌✨
MUAHAHAHA. 💅 SO MUCH HATE FOR MY COSPLAYS! Guys… I felt legit. Rite of passage had commenced. Heads up, I curse a bit. Lol…
Ahhhh… The things people get mad at cracked me up. Some people took this stuff way toooooooo seriously. TROLOLOLOLOL… :3
I had officially leveled up in the cosplay world. 🎮👑
Looking back, it’s wild how seriously people took it. Like… calm down, Sharon. It’s just foam and fabric, not a Supreme Court ruling. ⚖️✂️ But back then? It meant something. It was a weird badge of honor. A sign that I was no longer flying under the radar—I was being seen.
So let’s get real, because I’ve got stories—and more importantly, I’ve got tips. If you’ve been dealing with online hate, con drama, or cosplay bullies, here’s how I’ve learned to handle it over the years (with a little sass and a lot of heart):
💥 Tip #1: Laugh First, Cry Later (Or Just… Laugh)
Let it out. Vent. Scream into the void. And then? Laugh. The absurdity of some hate is WILD. One time someone got mad at me for using the “wrong shade of red.” Like okay, color police, chill.
🧠 Tip #2: Know Your Triggers—and Train Your Response
I wasn’t always good at letting things go. As a kid, I fought back hard. (Ask my principal. I basically lived in her office.) But the truth is, you can train yourself to stay calm when people push your buttons. Know what sets you off—and give yourself permission to not react instantly.
🦋 Tip #3: Channel the Butterfly Pen
Once upon a time, I held it together for a whole month to earn a sparkly butterfly pen. Bullies tried everything to break me, but I stayed focused. And yeah, I snapped in the end (RIP pen and third-grade nose), but it taught me that self-control is a muscle. Use it. Strengthen it. Save it for the moments that really matter.
💬 Tip #4: Not All Criticism Is Cruelty
There’s a big difference between “Hey, your wig could use a little smoothing” and “You’re trash and your cosplay sucks.” Learn to tell the difference. One helps you grow. The other? Delete and block.
🧘♀️ Tip #5: You Don’t Owe Anyone Your Peace
You don’t owe bullies a reply. You don’t owe strangers an explanation. Your time, your joy, and your peace? Those are sacred. Protect them.
💡 Tip #6: Self-Reflect, Don’t Self-Destruct
We all stumble. We all mess up. But when drama follows someone everywhere they go? That’s a pattern. If you’re seeing the same conflict over and over, take a pause and look at the common denominator. It’s not about guilt—it’s about growth.
🌟 Tip #7: Positivity Is a Choice (and a Superpower)
I used to admire superheroes. Then I realized—wait, I can be one. No cape required. Just kindness, patience, and a whole lot of stubborn positivity. You don’t need a perfect record. You just need a good heart and the will to keep showing up.
🗑️ Tip #8: Take Out the Trash
Yes, sometimes the toxic people are even in your own circles. Or family. You don’t owe anyone unlimited access to your mental health. Distance is healthy. Boundaries are brave.
💌 Tip #9: Pay It Forward
If you love someone’s cosplay? TELL THEM. Drop a comment. Share their stuff. Remind them they matter. Let’s flood this community with more love than it knows what to do with.
❄️ Tip #10: You Are a Special Snowflake (Fight Me On This)
You are valid whether you bought your costume, sewed it, thrifted it, commissioned it, or made it out of duct tape. You are not your follower count. You are not your troll’s opinion. You are a glorious, glittery, magical creature.
Don’t ever forget that.
This isn’t just a rant. It’s a survival guide, wrapped in glitter and sarcasm. Cosplay is a place for joy. If someone tries to take that from you? Shut that down. Hard.
Keep growing. Keep laughing. Keep cosplaying.
I believe in you. 🦎💖
Leaping Lizard Cosplay 
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