Cosplayer Mystic Being, whose real name is Meagan Starke, says an online backlash over her portrayal of Marvel Rivals character Emma Frost will not determine which roles she takes on. The plus-size creator received thousands of hostile comments focused on her body rather than her costume, but she says support from fans has reinforced her commitment to continue creating.
Key takeaways
- Mystic Being began cosplaying in 2021 and has since portrayed more than 100 characters.
- Her Emma Frost interpretation drew thousands of body-shaming messages from online users.
- She prioritizes supportive followers who value her creative versions of familiar characters.
- Since 2020, she has built a combined social-media audience exceeding seven million people.
- Her work also includes streaming, anime, Pokémon and travel content, alongside costume-making.
Body-size criticism does not change her approach
Mystic Being began dressing as favorite fictional figures in 2021 after discovering that cosplay offered an enjoyable creative outlet. Her work has covered characters from video games, comic books and films, although her visibility has also brought repeated criticism aimed at her size. Some online commenters have told her she is too fat to represent particular characters.
Those reactions have often centered on whether her body should prevent her from playing certain roles. Her Marvel Rivals-inspired Emma Frost costume proved especially challenging: what she made as a fun interpretation prompted thousands of hateful responses about her appearance and turned her cosplay into an argument over her body.
For Starke, however, cosplay is not dependent on recreating a character with exact physical accuracy. She sees it primarily as an opportunity to enjoy embodying a character she likes.
Managing online criticism has become one of the realities of her work. While internet users can post whatever they choose, she says she can decide where to place her attention, and she chooses encouragement over abuse.
“I deal with it by concentrating on the love,” Mystic Being says. “There are people who support me, appreciate my interpretations, and enjoy what I create.”
Her supporters respond to her imaginative character versions, recognize the effort in her work and motivate her to continue. That backing has allowed her to remain focused on an activity she genuinely enjoys. Her response to body-shaming has therefore been to keep cosplaying rather than withdraw. Having already taken on more than 100 roles, she does not intend to allow anonymous critics to stop her from attempting another character.
Inclusive creativity and a growing online platform
Mystic Being argues that people should not need to meet prescribed standards before participating in cosplay. In her view, creators do not have to resemble a character precisely, fit a specific body type or produce a flawless costume to take part.
Her advice is to select a character that matters to you and permit yourself to enjoy the experience. The message applies to people of all body sizes, backgrounds and creative abilities, whether they are trying cosplay for the first time, have years of experience or prefer designing original costumes.
She believes the community can accommodate all of them and wants people to feel able to explore characters they enjoy without seeking universal approval.
“Pick a character you love and allow yourself to have fun,” she says. “There is room for different sizes, skill levels, and interpretations.”
The range of roles she selects is a central feature of her work. Her costumes have included Marvel Rivals’ Emma Frost, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Bride of Frankenstein and Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The characters span very different fictional settings and visual styles, a variety she considers part of cosplay’s appeal.
Although she is a fan of anime and Pokémon, Mystic Being does not want her work limited to one genre or aesthetic. In many cases, she finds the least expected choices the most rewarding to bring to life. Experimenting with unfamiliar appearances and styles, she says, remains an important part of her creative development.
She has been expanding her social-media presence since 2020 and now has more than seven million followers across her platforms in total. Beyond cosplay, she produces material focused on streaming, anime, Pokémon and travel. In 2023, she began making some of her own costumes, adding another creative dimension to her work.
She plans to continue testing new character ideas while strengthening her costume-building skills. Despite the criticism she has encountered online, she does not want it to diminish the enjoyment she gets from cosplay. She also hopes her experience encourages people who may be reluctant to begin, emphasizing that the field is open to varied sizes, abilities and interpretations.
For Mystic Being, the priority is finding characters you care about, enjoying the process of bringing them to life and refusing to let negative online remarks stand in the way.
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TikTok: tiktok.com/waifumystic
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