Conversations with Jasmin Joestar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmin Joestar.

Hi Jasmin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey as a content creator was a serendipitous discovery. It started with trying to surprise my best friend with San Diego Comic-Con tickets, as they were a huge comic nerd, and I learned about the convention by a random encounter. A whirlwind of an adventure of trying to score tickets on Craigslist drove all the way down to San Diego from Los Angeles to meet people selling their badges, praying that they were legit, and walking into the convention for the first time having absolutely no idea what to expect. It felt like a kid walking into Disneyland for the first time: booths, merchandise, celebrities, and costumes. I was in awe, in the best way. I asked my friend, “Hey, are those people in costumes hired by the companies” and they laughed and explained to me that they were cosplayers. They make and wear costumes and wigs and become these characters for fun. Right then, it felt like a lightbulb lit up. I began researching what cosplay was, following cosplayers on social media, and was inspired. I chose Sheik from Legend of Zelda and my Smash Bros main character to cosplay first. Not the best idea; they’re more of an intermediate cosplay skill, but I got lucky that at the time, I worked for a small-business-owned kid’s party place, and the owner was a seamstress that put together our costumes for when we entertained the kids. Talk about meant to be, right? She helped me create my first costume, and I wore it to the E3 introduction of the new Smash Bros Ultimate by Nintendo, encouraged cosplayers to attend the event, and then wore it again a few months later to my first Anime Expo. It was there that my cosplay went viral!

I was shocked. I didn’t know what to do, and the comments lit; way too many comments asking, “whose the cosplayer?” I created my social media handles then (I went by Jasmin Loves You), which was the beginning of my content creator journey. Since then, I branched out by attending other conventions, being a panelist, hosting panels, and working with companies I loved, such as Marvel, Disney, Viz Media, Funimation, and more. I began to create content outside of cosplay, such as Disneybounding, modeling apparel from Hot Topic and BoxLunch, and streaming on Twitch. Most importantly, I could express myself creatively, celebrate the fandoms I was in, create a community of amazing people, and use my platform to highlight and uplift causes related to diversity and inclusion. As a non-binary Iraqi Muslim, I will continue to ensure that there is a seat at the table for our marginalized people and that we have that representation, as our voices and stories deserve to be amplified.

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are ups and downs in the content creator world.*laughing* It has not been a smooth road at all. Especially as a brown Muslim creator, the road is more like a rollercoaster. When I began content creation, minorities were rarely given opportunities. The people sitting at the table lacked melanin. To this day, the cosplay and fandom world still needs more diversity. It’s rare to see a full range of diversity in any fandom being celebrated. And even when there is representation, it tends to be a singular person from each culture. It’s tokenism, and while it’s a step in the right direction, it needs to move faster. Thankfully, the media sources creating the content have realized that and are doing better (not perfect yet). There is still hope to see communities, conventions, and companies follow through. This is why it’s important to continue to be active, use your voice, and create spaces in these places.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a content creator that loves anime, gaming, Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. I am a professional cosplayer who has collaborated with various companies – Viz Media, Funimation, Disney, Marvel, and more. I am also an influencer working with apparel companies such as BoxLunch, Hot Topic, Loungefly, and more. I am known for being a brown (Iraqi) Muslim content creator advocating for diversity and inclusion in pop culture. I am proud of creating spaces in places for people of color, I am proud that I have built a healthy community and a safe space, and I am pleased that change is happening. What sets me apart from others is that I am one of the few creators that share my faith and culture and use that to educate the community about our existence and amplify our stories.

So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
My social media handle for everything is @jasminjoestar. Support and collaboration are always welcome! You know where to find me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/jasminjoestar
• Facebook: facebook.com/jasminjoestar
• Twitter: twitter.com/jasminjoestar
• Youtube: youtube.com/jasminjoestar
• Other: tiktok.com/@jasminjoestar

Image Credits
Photo 1, 2 – York in a Box