WATCH: Epic Vegan Cosplay Transformation With Joo Skellington
Whether it’s for Comic-Con or a Halloween party, cosplay (i.e., “costume role play”) can be serious business. But many cosplayers may be unaware that their costumes and makeup are not always animal-friendly, as they can be made from animals’ skin or even be tested on animals.
But that’s where special effects makeup artist and internationally known cosplayer Joo Skellington (born Jose Davalos) comes into cosplay. PETA challenged him to create a costume that’s completely vegan and cruelty-free. Watch below to see how he did it:
“I was surprised to learn that feathers from animals and also their hairs are often torn away while they’re alive,” Skellington says in the video. “You can find this method with the angora rabbits, ostrich, and some other birds. Because they use no painkillers—and that’s very painful for the animal.”
Animal-free costumes are making their way to Hollywood sets and being worn by many iconic performers in film and television. Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian in Solo, Ryan Gosling as “K” in Blade Runner 2049, and Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon on the hit TV show Empire all sported faux fur. The costume team on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 kept the leather looks in the film animal-free by opting for vegan fabric. Vegan and longtime animal advocate Natalie Portman got her costume designer for Vox Lux to create an all-vegan wardrobe, including a custom purple pleather jacket.
To ensure that your next cosplay is 100% cruelty-free and vegan, be sure to do the following:
- Check PETA’s database of cruelty-free cosmetics brands.
- Check ingredients so that you know the products you’re using are vegan (i.e., they include no animal-derived ingredients).
- Check that your costume materials are free of animal-derived materials such as feathers, fur, leather, silk, and wool.
