Something Genuine S2E3: Hijabi Cosplayer Ani on Navigating Faith and Fandom

For episode three of Season Two, I'm joined by Ani—a cosplayer, content creator, and one of the most thoughtful voices I've encountered in fandom. I first met Ani at a Crunchyroll event during SXSW and was immediately struck by her unique perspective on cosplay, creativity, and authenticity. As a hijabi cosplayer, she's built a community by embracing who she is rather than trying to fit someone else's expectations. In this episode, we discuss: ✨ Growing up fascinated by costumes and character performance 🎭 Discovering cosplay through Heroes of Cosplay 🧕 Becoming a hijabi cosplayer and overcoming self-doubt 👨‍👩‍👧 How her parents became her biggest supporters 🌎 The global community of Muslim and hijabi cosplayers 📱 Authenticity in content creation and online culture More than anything, this conversation is about belonging—finding ways to participate in the things you love without sacrificing who you are. Follow Ani's social media accounts: Instagram:   / kxttykxtty   TikTok:   / notyourabg   YouTube: ‪@notyourabg‬ Connect with Beneath the Tangles: Website: https://beneaththetangles.com Weekly Newsletter: https://beneaththetangles.substack.com/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/AnimeTangles Instagram:   / beneaththetangles   Discord:   / discord