Andrea Starnes, AKA Mehdia_Raiise, has been cosplaying for over 20 years
Like so many cosplayers, Andrea Starnes grew up loving Halloween and dressing up. With Halloween having been her dad’s birthday, they always went all out. As she got older and started attending conventions, she saw people dressing up there. She and her brothers thought it looked fun, so in 2002, they finally decided to make costumes for the upcoming Star Wars Celebration they would be attending as a family. After a few in-costume interactions, especially with kids, Andrea was hooked, and never looked back.
She has now created tons of amazing costumes for herself and others, competed in and judged many cosplay contests, and does over a dozen cosplay charity events each yea. Andrea has definitely found ways over the years to incorporate cosplay into her everyday life, too.
31 Days of Halloween
Halloween is still always a special time for her though. The biggest thing she has done to celebrate started in 2020. While the world was on lockdown, there was nowhere to cosplay. And that was the same her father passed away. So, when October rolled around, she decided to have fun at work by wearing a different cosplay wig and makeup each day. It helped distract her, and gave her co-workers something fun to break up the stress of the day. She now does it every year, and they can’t wait for her 31 Days of Halloween to start up.
The cosplay moment that inflates Andrea’s head a little
Despite her long and decorated history on the cosplay scene, Andrea is still incredibly modest, often pointing to other cosplayers and crafters when the spotlight is on her. The Comics Illustrated team did get her to brag on herself a little bit when we asked her for one of her stand-out cosplay memories.
“I share this story a lot, but it’s still the coolest moment ever for me in cosplay. In 2019, I was cosplaying Dark Phoenix with my best friend Hunter as Kitty Pryde. We were walking to get in the autograph line for Chris Claremont, the writer of the Dark Phoenix Saga himself, when we hear a man go ‘Stop! Don’t go anywhere, I want a picture with you!’
We look around and realize Chris Claremont was the one calling out to us. We both stood there grinning like idiots as he finished signing stuff for the person he was with.
He then steps out, puts on a baseball cap that says, ‘Previously on X-Men’ and poses for pictures with us. That the man himself wanted pictures with us, and not the other way around blew my mind!”
Don’t sweat the competition
Andrea has won awards as a cosplay competitor over the years, and now she most often judges, especially in the Tennessee area. She’s also always full of supportive messaging and helpful pointers for new and seasoned competitors.
“The best advice I can give is to try and stay calm. Most of us who judge have been on the other side of the table, and it can be anxiety inducing to put yourself out there like that. But just take a deep breath, start from the top of the costume, and work your way down. And always tell what you are proud of, and don’t point out flaws. Chances are, we never saw them until you pointed it out.”
Having sewn everything from aprons to full ballgowns, forayed into body paint, and being an expert at superhero posing, Andrea is an excellent role model for positive attitude and competitive skill.
(Left) Model: Andrea Starnes, Character: Ichihara Yuuko, Photographer: Cliff Nordman. (Center) Model: Andrea Starnes, Character: Captain Carter, Photographer: Huffoto. (Right) Model: Andrea Starnes, Character: Hecate, Photographer: Paige Duheme.
Spreading the love through cosplay
Cosplay volunteer work is Andrea’s favorite thing about cosplaying. She is a board member for Cause-Play Memphis, a group that spends a lot of time in the local children’s hospitals in Memphis, Tennessee. They also do school events and work with the local group ARMS, Autism Resources of the Midsouth.
Andrea says, “We love that group and what they are doing to raise awareness for the autistic community. It’s hard to pick a favorite event, but one I always enjoy is the Night to Shine Prom put on by the Tim Tebow Foundation. It’s a lovely night for special needs people to become the kings and queens of prom. I’m always exhausted the day after, but it’s so worth it.”
It is not uncommon for Andrea to do charity events multiple weekends in a row, or have charity events and conventions that she’s a guest for back to back. Her busy schedule is tiring, but her love of cosplay and the good she can do with it makes it worth it.
Taking over the internet with cos-positivity
Andrea spread her cosplay renown, and the good she can do with it, even more when she joined as a regular host on the podcast Cosplay Cafe.
“I never thought of myself as the kind to host a podcast, much less one where you see my face! But after doing a virtual con with Kelly in 2021, she approached me with the idea of the Cosplay Cafe. To say I was honored to be a person anyone would consider as a co-host is an understatement. Anxiety and introvertedness always makes me think I’m forgettable, and not the person anyone would want to have with them in such a huge undertaking.”
Cosplay Café is a twice-monthly, live podcast, performed in full costume. The hosts and guests stick to a theme for each one-hour show, and live commenters join in on the fun. Near the end of the show, the hosts take time to show guest submissions from viewers at all skill levels. The show’s mission is to spread “cos-positivity,” and encourage people to get the most out of the cosplay community.
Andrea says, “I think my favorite part of doing the show is being a voice for the less seen cosplayers. To be able to remind them that they are awesome, and that their cosplay is valid, even if they don’t have thousands of followers, means the world to me.”
The show always wraps up by asking that week’s guest to give advice to new or discouraged cosplayers.
Andrea’s advice to cosplayers
“I could say so many things to other cosplayers, especially new ones. But, amongst all the other advice, my biggest piece is this: find your tribe. Find those people that will lift you up and support you no matter what.”
Reach out to Mehdia Raiise (Andrea Starnes)
You can reach out to Andrea through her Mehdia_Raiise account on Instagram, or through any of the Cosplay Cafe channels here.
Despite her busy schedule, she regularly offers to answer quick questions or pass on a word of support to other cosplayers.
