Today we’d like to introduce you to Trinity Clayton.
Hi Trinity, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began showing interest in cosplay in 2022 when the quarantine was at its peak. During this time I had just moved from a small county in Maryland called Calvert and I didn’t really understand how truly large the world was. I started becoming more experimental with my clothes and makeup which started my alternative style journey as well. After going to my first small event, seeing how people are able to create cosplay, outfits and different makeup looks, it inspired me to give it my own go. In the beginning of my cosplay journey I heavily implemented my blackness into my outfits and characters, often wearing afro-textured hair with those characters. This was both loved by my fellow black cosplayers, and hated by those who weren’t black and disliked that I wasn’t being “accurate” with my characters. But I didn’t let that discourage me and I kept shining. In the mist of my cosplay journey getting both love and hate from my community I experienced so many new things that I wouldn’t change both good and bad. These experiences are what made me who I am today and it’s what drives me to keep going even when I don’t have the motivation inward. I have an amazing support system behind me; my friends who keep pushing me to do better, to keep going, and to be the greatest version of myself. Because of that, I owe it to them to do my very best.
Lately my content has shifted, more focused on pop culture, black culture, and discussions some people don’t shed light on.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of my early on struggles had been the people I surrounded myself with. Back when I started I was about 19 free-roaming all of Houston in the at the time cosplay community… so I wasn’t the best at gauging characters. At that time, I dealt with a decent bit of heartache as it relates to my friendships in my then community. There were times I would find myself being slandered in private by the people I called friends at the time, which is big issue in that community along side the hidden predators and those who keep them safe. I learned how to be very careful with the time and energy I put out, and to be kind but cautious. A different struggle within the same community would also be the unapologetic hatred that non-black people have for black cosplayers. Anytime a video or photo would leave my primary demographic I knew somewhere in my DMs, comment section or even my email would be a racist remark left for me just because I am a POC dressing as a character that isn’t my skin color.
A different type of struggle i’d add is being diagnosed with a personality disorder awhile ago and having to both manage that and ensure that i’m not being a bad friend, partner, daughter, or sister. Because while the illness is a reason, it’s not an excuse. Sometimes it keeps me in a self loathing box where I feel like i’m not good enough to be included in good things, but thankfully I have people in my life that guide me back to the right track, and who help me remember whats important along with who I am at my core. Without them i’d be nothing, truly.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a content creator. Currently i’ve been making more conversational content, but I like to make Dance and Pole content to show the different types of physical activities people can get into, and how fun it can be to do physical activities thats not just going to the gym. I don’t do too much of cosplay anymore, but it’s definitely not out of my system. Lately i’ve been most proud of my conversational videos, where people hear an opinion or a comment of mine and they agree and discuss it respectfully. I like that some of my videos challenge people to think about scenarios or things going on in the world and they can discuss that amongst themselves.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I would say to just keep going. It’s a bit discouraging when theres not many people having their eyes on you but I believe that if you get used to confidently talking to “the void” at some point it WILL say something back. It’s so important that you get used to being on camera, being comfortable in not being seen, and being okay with a couple of “flop” videos. You shouldn’t be afraid to take that risk! JUST POST. Just believe in yourself and your ability to be seen, you can do anything you put your time and effort into.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/riinstarr
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riinstarr?igsh=MTk4ZnVqeGdieHRoeQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@riinstarr?si=dYyWxoLLTPXoeE4t
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@riinstarr?_r=1&_t=ZP-98CMgPizx8A
