Cosplayers in drag: the Singaporeans who cross-dress as anime princesses to relieve boredom of their everyday lives
- A group of men in Singapore love to dress as comic characters of the opposite sex, parading in push-up bras, platform heels, ball gowns and lots of duct tape
- Homophobic put-downs, nasty gossip and strained family ties are part and parcel of ‘crossplay’ in the Lion City. Yet the community continues to grow
A young man hunches over a basin in a public washroom in Singapore’s Suntec City shopping complex and applies a fresh swipe of lipstick.
Date, not his real name, is dressed as a princess from Fate/Grand Order, a Japanese role-playing mobile game, for the GameStart Asia anime and gaming convention. He worries about staining his costume’s silk train – and even more about whether his silicone breasts will look convincing in his tight bodice. Alongside him, men wearing multicoloured wigs prep and preen.
Date, 28, and his companions are crossplayers: anime fans who like to dress up as their favourite fictional characters of the opposite sex.
While in costume, Date will try not to speak, let alone smile. “I don’t want people to see my crooked teeth,” he says. “It will spoil their impression of my character.”
Date works as a security guard at a condominium, where the monotony of his job is punctuated only by the beep of the intercom he uses to give visitors access. To fend off boredom, he researches ideas for new crossplay costumes he can wear when the next anime convention comes along.
Date says he only had a handful of like-minded friends and acquaintances when he began crossplaying in 2011, and has 50 or so today.
