14-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) If you’ve ever attended events like Anime Festival Asia, Japanese Cultural Festival, or Singapore Comic Con, you’ve likely encountered the vibrant world of cosplayers. These enthusiasts creatively embody characters from film, television, books, or Japanese anime and manga through elaborate costumes. Among them is Nur Mimi, a 25-year-old hijabi cosplayer known as Shirumimi, who adds a unique twist to this dynamic subculture.
Cosplaying involves donning larger-than-life costumes of favourite characters, but for Nur, the challenge is to maintain her hijab while embracing this form of self-expression. The hijab, rooted in the concept of religious modesty, comprises a headscarf and modest clothing worn by Muslim women. As a hijabi, Nur ensures her hair and body remain appropriately covered during cosplaying.
“Many anime costumes are known for being revealing,” Nur explains. “But I’ve learned that they can be creatively reimagined to suit a hijabi style.”
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Nur’s journey into hijabi cosplay began last year while re-watching an episode of Pretty Cure, her beloved anime. Inspired by the character Honoka Yukishiro, she pondered the possibility of dressing up as her favourite character. This led her to discover hijabi cosplayers, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia, who creatively adapted costumes while staying true to their values of modesty.
One notable influence on Nur was Malaysian cosplayer Ai Nurul, who demonstrated the art of modifying costumes to maintain modesty, even for characters with revealing designs. Inspired, Nur embarked on her own experimentation, facing challenges such as styling the hijab to resemble anime-style hair.
While reluctant to disclose her secrets, Nur emphasizes the importance of patience and openness to new methods. “My two go-to tools for perfecting the hijab are, firstly, pins – I use lots and lots of pins,” she reveals. “And secondly, the right innerwear to cover my neck and arms properly while keeping the essence of the original look.”
Modifying costumes for modesty poses another challenge, especially for characters with revealing outfits. Characters like Yor Forger from Spy x Family and Elysia from Honkai Impact presented difficulties, but Nur persevered, trying different styles until satisfied.
Nearly two years into her cosplay journey, Nur remains committed, having invested around S$1,000 in costumes and modifications. She views cosplay as an expensive yet fulfilling hobby, with endless possibilities for creative expression. Despite occasional conflicts between cosplaying and wearing the hijab, Nur stays true to her values.
“The hijab isn’t just about covering up but also about values like modesty and an outward expression of my identity as a Muslim,” she asserts. While acknowledging potential conflicts, Nur emphasizes the importance of understanding personal boundaries.
“If I feel like I’m losing myself and straying away from my religion when I’m cosplaying, then I should be brave enough to let go of my hobby,” she declares. “As much as I love cosplaying, if it compromises my identity as a Muslim or leads me to forget some of my religious values, I’m prepared to say goodbye.”
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