Days 136 to 142 — A Long Quickie

From My Closet/Life
Aug 9, 2017 · 5 min read
FROM MY CLOSET — Xena and Sia

“My goal is to give girls and boys a different idea of expression. It’s not always about looking pretty or cute. It’s about expressing yourself however that may be, even if that’s being silly or goofy or weird.”

I have been jumping between characters pretty quickly without writing much in the past few days. They’ve been a bit of crazy days! So this is going to revolve around all of them.

Since the last post, I was Daisy Duck, Mathilda Lando from Leon the Professional, Lilo from Lilo and Stitch, Elena De La Vega from The Mask of Zorro, Xena from Xena: Warrior Princess, Sia, and Oui Oui.

I got lots of the usual reactions “why are you dressed like that?” “Omg, leh hek chakla?” and some more character specific comments “Why are you naked?” (for Mathilda), “Did you come here on a horse?” and “where’s your sword?” (For Xena), “Please remove that bed sheet” and “aren’t you feeling hot?” (For Elena) “Congratulations on the wedding” (For Sia) and many more that I just lost track of…

On Daisy day, I had a carton beak on my mouth all day, which made things a bit difficult.

FROM MY CLOSET Day 136 — Daisy Duck

I went back to the gym on Mathilda day and did yoga in the costume (without the wig).

FROM MY CLOSET Day 137 — Mathilda Lando

We filmed a video against dolphin shows on Lilo day.

FROM MY CLOSET Day 138 — Lilo

On that note, I urge you not to encourage animal torture for mere entertainment and don’t support the show. Many dolphins are being murdered and separated from their families for the show, only to be thrown in a small tank where they become depressed. The “pretty” ones are used in the show while the “ugly” ones are killed. Theses dolphins deserve to live freely and not have to die just to be fed…

On Elena day, I spent the day with a bed sheet wrapped around my pants and the comments during that day were many: “Why are you doing this to yourself? You’re a smart person… why have you gone mad?” and the list goes on. Why am I mad just because I’m dressing differently, and though not that differently. Expression comes in many forms and ways and that should be respected. I always insist on the “as long as you’re not hurting anyone” factor.

FROM MY CLOSET Day 139 — Elena De La Vega

On Xena day, I decided to apply to a beauty pageant in costume. Needless to say I was dismissed when I was asked about the outfit I was wearing and I explained the reasoning. I also went out at night with the sword and wig and everything. The people at the place we were at have come to get used to me in costumes but always have a hard time recognizing me. It was fun and also filled with lots of comments from everyone who was there and didn’t know about this.

FROM MY CLOSET Day 140 — Xena

On Xena day, I hoped I was a warrior princess. At night, I was going home and was followed by a drunk guy. I was alone and it was very late at night but the road wasn’t untraveled and no it shouldn’t be something to expect because I’m a girl alone at night. Sexual harassment, or harassment in any way is not acceptable! Check out the KIP project on Gender and Sexuality started a campaign titled “Mesh Basita” to highlight the harassment that happens everywhere in Lebanon. Check them out and support the cause that we can all fall victims of.

On Sia day, I went out with a group of friends for the first time in costume and they were enjoying the reactions! They even managed to snap a few pictures and were asking if it’s always like this when I go out. We were at a pub and then a coffee shop and they were packed.

FROM MY CLOSET Day 141 — Sia Furler

Oui Oui day was a rather quieter day and I was surprised that people instantly recognized the childhood character. I didn’t expect for many to remember him but a lot did and without being told so that means that I had done it well.

FROM MY CLOSET Day 142 — Oui Oui

The reason I started this article by the quote by Sia only and none of the other characters’ is because that one most represents what I’m doing in general.

It’s really not about how cute or pretty we think we are or want others to think we are. It’s just a matter of self-expression. You have the right to be different and express differently. That should never be taken for granted.

I keep getting asked if I’m crazy or if I feel I might regret this in a few years when I look back at it. I will definitely be a different person by then, hell I’m a different person every day! (ba dum tsss) But the core message out of this is to just be yourself no matter what and express that however way you see fit, as long as you’re not hurting anyone.

Be real, be you. Spent every day in a costume, for a year, to fight stereotypes and encourage individuality. Fb: From My Closet - Twitter/IG/Snapchat: @EligeAY

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