We have been dying to share Steggy Stardust with you for Wrestlemania month since we saw her wrestling mash-ups! When you learn she has been doing cosplay for such a short time, you are floored since her cosplay looks like she has been pro-level for years! She is such a great person and has become an awesome friend. I am super psyched to introduce you to the amazingly awesome Steggy Stardust!
What inspired you to start cosplaying?
As far as wearing cosplays to conventions, I barely just started in 2015. But I remember around the age of 23 (almost 6 years ago) I started taking Halloween crazy seriously. I would put together multiple outfits – there was never enough days spent celebrating Halloween. My mom would help me put together outfits because I didn’t want to buy them. I wanted to be as original as I could!
What was the first convention you attended and what was the most memorable part of that convention?
Oh man – I think it was C2E2 in 2011/2012. I remember going and seeing all the amazing costumes and how these people weren’t shy at all to BE these characters. It was nerd central and I loved every single part of it – from the costumes to the art. However, I think my absolute favorite part back then, and to this day, is how unbelievably friendly everyone was. It was so easy to nerd out and talk to strangers. I couldn’t believe it!
You are clearly a wrestling fan, and do some amazing mash-ups. Who is your favorite wrestler and which is your favorite mash-up?
The wrestling mash-ups came about while I was dating a wrestler, so I have to give a little credit where it’s 
due. He helped me come up with ideas and helped me perfect them. However, I grew up watching wrestling with my dad and all of my cousins – I didn’t want Barbie’s at Christmas, I wanted wrestling action figures!
I loved so many of them, but when it comes to favorites I must say that Lita was it. I remember watching her in the ring with her baggy pants (like the Hardyz) and her crop top shirts – her whole outfit screamed confidence. At the time you really didn’t see the “tomboy” (I hate that word) image get so much positive recognition. Then she would do the craziest moves in the ring and it was so empowering. It was awesome having a figure like that to look up to growing up – a woman who could hang with the boys! She was talented and tough, and to top it all off she was gorgeous! We used to pretend wrestle and I was always her!
As for my favorite mash-up so far, I think She Hulk Hogan takes the cake. Being my third wrestling mash-up, I think it’s pretty easy to see that they get better every time, because with every cosplay I make in general, I learn something new. I love She Hulk – she’s such an amazing and strong character, so it was awesome being able to portray her, while portraying such an iconic wrestler
What is the most challenging cosplay/prop/project that you’ve worked on?
I have had some good luck so far with my cosplays, where they’re fairly simple, just more time consuming to put together. However, I just put together a green lantern costume where I cut a circle in the chest, and I didn’t think about how unbelievably hard it would be to get a nice, clean cut! I couldn’t believe how long it took me to get it close to perfection. So that was frustrating, but eventually I improvised and figured it out!
If time and money were no object – what would be your ultimate cosplay be?
Oh this is a tough one. I would LOVE to do a full body paint – but it’s so time consuming! Even painting on the Spiderwoman mask takes me about 45 minutes. To do my whole body would take hours and hours, and my patience is quite low. Venom would be awesome to do!
What are some of the best things you’ve learned about yourself since you started cosplaying?
Cosplaying really got me out of my shell. I noticed that after I became more comfortable with cosplaying in public, I became more comfortable in other parts of my life, like work and being out in general – I’m actually a very shy person! More than anything, cosplay really helped me be okay with my size and image. I have actually gotten scolded before for saying things like that, but women, (and men), are constantly surrounded by beauty “standards” and what’s “in” – it’s exhausting trying to keep up with it. There is always someone “prettier” or in “better” shape – but there is only one “you”, and cosplay helped me realize that.
Being in an environment where you can see all sorts of shapes and sizes being embraced and loved – it’s really something special. I think a lot of women go through a period of time where they aren’t comfortable in their own skin. For me, I always feel my absolutely best when I’m in cosplay surrounded by other people who loved the same things I do and who appreciate the cosplays I put together.
What is your advice to those just getting into cosplay?
Wear what you are comfortable wearing, and don’t worry about seeking others approval. When I first started, I was afraid of details and something about my outfits being off, and thinking I would get scolded for it. That’s almost never the case. Embrace your creativity. If you like what you made, then wear it proud. The cosplay community is amazing – and we all stick together!
Where can we find you online?
I’m most active on my Instagram – @SteggyStardust.
My facebook page is Facebook.com/SteggyStardust, and Twitter handle is also SteggyStardust.
Luckily I picked a unique enough name so numbers were not needed! I’m in the process of getting a website and shop together, so hopefully I’ll be launching that later this year! I’m also a part of the Chicago Bombshells – a cosplay group based in Chicago made up of 6 cosplayers.
You can find us on Instagram at @ChicagoBombshells, Facebook.com/ChicagoBombshells, and Twitter.com/ChiBombshells!