GROWING UP

‘SUP, NERDS. Today is all about my first exposure to conventions and how the Nerd Queen was born. Conventions are basically weekend-long parties to celebrate fandoms. These are events dear to my heart, since they helped me grow as a person.

Diversity

Anime Central 2009 was the first convention I ever attended. I had no clue what to expect. Back then I was a sophomore in high school and never knew anyone outside of my group of friends who was just as crazy about anime and video games as we were.

ACen enthralled me because I truly felt at home. Nobody would make fun of me for what I liked. No worries to be had. Conventions are a safe place to discuss what you can’t with others. It’s relaxing because you can simply be yourself.

So I'm going to mess with your head for a second. I found this cosplayer during my first ACen. This is a girl, dressed up as Teddie. Teddie is a boy, but this is an outfit he wears when he enters a high school drag contest. Oh, and I forgot to mention that Teddie isn't actually a boy, he's a bear. Not even a real bear. A bear from the TV world. And he was never originally a bear even there. Teddie was originally a shadow... so I guess this girl must identify as a shadow??

It was also the first time I encountered openly gay people, which was at first quite shocking. My hometown is a little bubble—a primarily Caucasian, conservative population. ACen was great exposure for me to meet a large number of people of a different color, sexuality or religion compared to what I used to consider “normal.”

The Power of a Crown

During my first ACen I was a little overwhelmed, but it was a welcomed culture shock. Once I knew what an anime convention entailed, I decided to make the most of my time at ACen because it wouldn’t happen for another year. I am fond of my old Nerd Queen persona. She was created for my second ACen and I stuck with this character for a long time.

Keith Apicary, 29, is my biggest boy crush ever. Photo taken by the amazing Ron Ladao. If you don’t know Ron, you have never been to a convention in the Midwest.

The Nerd Queen was a way for me to release all my pent-up energy. Admittedly, I used this as a way to muster up the courage to talk with boys, even though I didn’t actually start dating until college. I have never been shy in my life, but if it weren’t for the Nerd Queen, I wouldn’t have made so many friends.

Michael, my best friend from high school, dressed as Cat Len with the Nerd Queen.

As I frantically ran around conventions, the Nerd Queen was essentially my tool to network. By talking to everyone I possibly could, I have met several significant figures in the video game and anime community. Some of these people I’ve actually become good friends with and I learned to value them as regular folks. I don’t put celebrities up on a pedestal like I used to by realizing how much hard work they put in to be where they are today.

At one ACen I bumped into contestants who were on Sony’s reality program, The Tester. Skyd1ddy on the left and Mo Chocolate on the right. Next I hope to meet Adrianne Curry: judge on The Tester, retired cosplay diva, and the first winner of America’s Next Top Model.

The End of an Era

The Nerd Queen was officially laid to rest almost two years ago. If I ever wanted to make it to where all these professional geeks are, I had to stop pretending. I decided to make myself a real convention queen.

My time as a fake queen will never be forgotten. I opened up and most importantly had fun. Have conventions impacted you like they have for me? How did you get out of your shell? Comment below!!

Next time we’re going to look at my first original cosplay design and you will quickly learn how much I love the essence of ScrewAttack.

LATER, DWEEBS.

-Loverly Liz