Photos (L-R): M. Doyle, Joseph Cruz, Jamila C, Kiara, Bryan Scott.

Elves, fairies, sirens — oh my! Last Saturday, May 8, 2021, black cosplayers, artists, and creators worked their magic for Black Fae Day. While a recent concept, it’s taken social media by storm with its very own hashtag, #BlackFaeDay.

Twitter user @maximilli_lo originally thought of the idea. They recall: “I was still on the high of #28DaysofBlackCosplay and Brandy’s Cinderella streaming and thought, ‘I need more of this feeling.’ I felt hopeful and dreamy looking at these images.” They were particularly inspired by Kenji K’s Instagram. The official Instagram, Black Fae Day Official, and its bio states: “We want to show that Black/BIPOC need more representation in fantasy. We’re out here and we’re magical.” This year, the event was also hosted by Brown Sugar Fairies.

In our continued effort to diversify our features, particularly showcasing BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ individuals, Carbon Costume is covering Black Fae Day for 2021! We contacted five cosplayers to interview and show off their magic.

CocoaSugar Cosplay (she/her)

A flutterific selfie taken by Cocoa Sugar Cosplay herself.

We’re thrilled to welcome back Cocoa Sugar Cosplay, who we previously featured in the first Spotlight On Black Cosplayers interview. When I pitched the idea to cover Black Fae Day, I remembered chatting about how to make fairy wings. So it was only fitting to ask Cocoa to return for another feature for the event!

Tell us a bit about your look — how you made it, what inspired it, anything you want to share:

“Ages ago, I saw an image of a runway model who had an afro made of marigolds- I was so in love with the concept and thought it would be a great thing to incorporate into a fairy design as a nod to my favorite hairstyle. Everything here was something I created specifically for fae day this year. I am especially proud of my wings, which were a ton of fun to put together. They’re translucent, iridescent, and very very sparkly!”  (She’s documented the process of making her wings and will be sharing it with everyone in her YouTube channel- stay tuned!)

The best part about Black Fae Day is…

“I love being able to see the amazing work that the community is creating! I’m also able to discover new artists and cosplayers through the hashtag #blackfaeday.”

Who is your favorite fairy in pop culture? Tinkerbell, Ferngully, etc.

“Gotta love Tinkerbell! She’s so feisty and I love it!”

Saray Blu (she/her)

Photo: Joseph Cruz

Eevee, aka Saray Blu, is no stranger to the spotlight, with 7k followers and her very own feature on Project Nerd. She is such a talented cosplayer, emulating many different characters from different fandoms with her makeup and outfits. This was her first time participating in Black Fae Day!

Tell us a bit about your look — how you made it, what inspired it, anything you want to share:

“I went for a pixie look. I got inspired by the pixie fae cosplays.”

The best part about Black Fae Day is…

“The representation.”

Who is your favorite fairy in pop culture? Tinkerbell, Ferngully, etc.

“Tooth Fairy from Rise of the Guardians.”

Idkgravity (she/her)

Photo: Kiara

You didn’t think all fairies were made of sunshine and rainbows, did you? Xero Gravity, a Black horror creator and aficionado, puts an villainous twist on her fae look. With features on KyFx Horror and Horror Chromatic, it’s safe to say she’s an icon in the horror and Blerd community.

Tell us a bit about your look — how you made it, what inspired it, anything you want to share:

“This cosplay is made of various pieces I’ve collected over the years from the New York Renaissance Faire. The horned cowl was once an old durag *wink face*.”

The best part about Black Fae Day is…

“COMMUNITY. It’s been a very long time since we have been able to be connected in this way. It’s been a long 15 months, but it seems like the cosblerd community is still able to pick up exactly where we left off. I love that for us.”

Who is your favorite fairy in pop culture? Tinkerbell, Ferngully, etc.

“MALEFICENT. The queen of the moors bends the way pop culture perceives fairies. She’s not dainty, she is not small, but she IS a force to be reckoned with. Fairies are rarely portrayed as strong women. Bonus points for the gothic look in my book.”

BlackBettieCosplays (she/they)

Jamila’s own photos from a self-shoot

Jamila C, aka BlackBettieCosplays, is a plus-sized, non-binary cosplayer, creator, and photographer based in the Pacific Northwest. They are well-known for their Lore Olympus cosplays and TikTok videos. Let’s see just how she transformed herself into Oberon’s “merry wanderer of the night.”

Tell us a bit about your look — how you made it, what inspired it, anything you want to share:

“As a theatre grad and costume designer I have always wanted to do my own spin on Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream – so I decide to make my own version of Puck with two looks inspired by the 18th century and Rococo fashion. I gave myself the extra challenge of only using thrifted materials for both looks – they used to be curtains!”

The best part about Black Fae Day is…

“Seeing all the amazing designs and variety that people came up with and just all the beautiful melanin. For so long people kept saying black fantasy characters don’t look good – well everyone proved them wrong!”

Who is your favorite fairy in pop culture? Tinkerbell, Ferngully, etc.

“I think it’s probably Puck, which is why I cosplayed him. I love a trickster and he’s definitely one of them.”

Chowder.Z (she/her)

Photo: Bryan Scott

When assembling this feature, I made it a point to look through the hashtag. There I found Maya, aka Chowder.Z, and her creative space. A self proclaimed Blerd, Maya makes a poignant statement about Black Fae Day and representation. She says: “Events like this are so important because Black people so rarely get to see ourselves in fantasy stories – even though we have plenty of folklore and fantasy. We deserve to have fantastical stories like anyone else.”

Tell us a bit about your look — how you made it, what inspired it, anything you want to share:

“I heard about #BlackFaeDay and decided to do something very cute, feminine and as magical as possible!”

The best part about Black Fae Day is…

“Days like this give people the chance to realize that Black people belong in these spaces. Time and time again we are shamed for getting into cosplay and dressing up as mythical creatures because people have decided we don’t look the part. It’s very discouraging but coming together as a community gives us the confidence to fight these ideas and have fun while doing it.” Who is your favorite fairy in pop culture? Tinkerbell, Ferngully, etc.

Who is your favorite fairy in pop culture? Tinkerbell, Ferngully, etc.

“Definitely the Fairy Godmother from Shrek! I was so close to just cosplaying her haha. I love a little sass with my magic, and no one can deny she looked GOOD while playing the villain.”

Thank you to everyone who participated in this feature. Be sure to follow them! And of course you’ll want scroll through the #BlackFaeDay hashtag on social media for more whimsical, ethereal goodness!