Protecting Your Peace: 4 Ways Black Girl Cosplayers Can Cope with Cyberbullying

Cosplay, the creative practice of dressing up as characters from anime, manga, video games, comics, and other media, should be a space of joy, self-expression, and community. Yet for many participants, particularly Black women and girls, this creative outlet comes with a side of sexism and racism. Women cosplayers frequently face hypersexualization, unsolicited comments about their bodies, and accusations that they're only cosplaying for male attention. Meanwhile, Black cosplayers encounter racist gatekeeping, with critics claiming they can't accurately portray characters who aren't explicitly Black, or face derogatory comments about their skin tone, hair texture, and features. For Black women and girls, these experiences don't exist separately but intersect in harmful ways which is best explained by a concept called intersectionality. Black girl cosplayers face a particular brand of cyberbullying that combines racial stereotypes with gendered harassment, often being told they're "too dark" for certain characters while simultaneously being objectified or dismissed entirely. This dual burden can make what should be a fun hobby feel emotionally exhausting and unsafe. In light of the tragic loss of Ashley Gail Paxton, known online as @squidkid1111, we at Psychcicle wanted every Black cosplayer who identifies as a woman to know: you deserve to exist fully in these communities without compromise. So while you’re out there being the best Nezuko or Uraraka you can be, here are four strategies to help you protect your mental health and continue doing what you love.

1. Practice Harm Reduction by Curating Your Digital Environment

One of the most immediate and effective ways to combat cyberbullying is to actively control what content and people have access to your online spaces. Harm reduction isn't about pretending the problem doesn't exist, it's about acknowledging the reality of online harassment while taking concrete steps to minimize its impact on your wellbeing.

Be proactive by periodically looking through your followers/ follower requests and blocking accounts that haven't directly made racist or sexist comments but follow and engage with known hate accounts. This preventive approach stops potential harassment before it reaches you. Think of it as building a protective fence around your digital space. If a people make it past your digital fence be ruthless with your blocking and reporting. Block and report anyone who leaves racist or sexist comments on your posts. Don't engage, don't explain, don't try to educate them in the moment. Simply remove their access to you.

When a digital fence and blocking and reporting simply aren’t enough, like in the case of going viral, turn off comments. There's no rule that says you must leave yourself vulnerable to harmful comments in the name of engagement. Your mental health is more valuable than any metric. Many successful content creators strategically disable comments on certain posts, and you can too.

2. Connect with the Blerd Community for Support

You are not alone in your experiences, and connecting with others who understand exactly what you're going through can be incredibly validating and healing. The Blerd community, Black nerds who love everything from anime to sci-fi to gaming, is full of people who get it. They've faced the same microaggressions, the same gatekeeping, and the same intersectional discrimination.

Seek out Blerd-specific Discord servers, Facebook groups, subreddit communities, and follow Blerd creators on social media. These spaces often feel like a breath of fresh air because you don't have to explain why certain comments are harmful or justify your right to exist in fandom spaces. Everyone already understands. Within these communities, you'll find people sharing their own experiences, offering advice, celebrating each other's cosplays without the racism that plagues mainstream cosplay spaces, and providing the kind of support that comes from shared experience.

Many Blerd communities also organize meetups at conventions, creating real-world safe spaces where Black cosplayers can connect face-to-face. These connections can evolve into genuine friendships with people who will hype you up, defend you when necessary, and remind you why you fell in love with cosplay in the first place. Community isn't just about receiving support, it's also about giving it. When you uplift other Black cosplayers, comment positively on their work, and create the kind of encouraging environment you wish existed everywhere, you're actively building the community you need.

3. Take Breaks from Social Media and Prioritize Self-Care

Sometimes the most radical thing you can do for your mental health is simply step away. Social media can create a sense of obligation, a feeling that you need to constantly post, engage, and be present. But your wellbeing matters more than your posting schedule and taking intentional breaks from social media is a valid and important form of self-care.

If you've experienced a particularly painful wave of harassment, give yourself permission to log off for a day, a week, or however long you need. You don't owe anyone an explanation. During these breaks, redirect the energy you'd normally spend on social media toward activities that genuinely replenish you.

Self-care for Black women dealing with racism and sexism isn't just about bubble baths and face masks, though those can be nice. It's about actively working against the internalization of harmful messages. This might include journaling about your experiences to process your emotions, engaging with media that centers and celebrates Black women, or listening to your favorite music (may we suggest “She Gon’ Be Black Today” by AfroCocopuffs). Pay attention to what actually makes you feel more like yourself and less weighed down by others' prejudice. Sometimes self-care means protecting your peace by choosing not to engage with spaces or conversations that drain you.

4. Consider Working with a Therapist Who Understands Your Experience

While friends, community, and self-care strategies are all valuable, sometimes you need professional support to process the ongoing impact of cyberbullying and discrimination. If you find yourself ruminating on racist/sexist comments, having thoughts of harming yourself, or other signs of depression and/or PTSD it’s time to call in some professional reinforcement: a therapist. Therapy provides a confidential space to work through the complex emotions that come with being targeted for your identity, develop coping strategies tailored to your specific situation, and build resilience without minimizing what you're experiencing.

 If this resonates with you and you'd like to begin therapy with someone who understands your world, we'd be honored to work with you. Reach out today to schedule a consultation, and let's work together to protect your peace while you continue being your authentic, creative, powerful self in every space you enter.

Schedule a Free Consultation