We all know that the organic flow is booktok to biketok to masktok, right? Well, if you didn’t know, now you know. We start out reading a book or two, then join the online frenzy, learning about TBRs, DNFs, ARCs, and on and on.

One dark romance later, our algorithm is like, “hey if you like that, you’re gonna lose your mind when I show you videos of people riding motorcycles with their helmets on. Always. They never show their face. Ever. ” Enticed by the mystery of it all, we watch buddies goofing at the gas station or at a red light. We yearn to be a backpack. We sneak the thirst traps and dancing videos.

Just when we think that we’ve seen it all, in walks masktok, like wassup fuckers. The algorithm gently places COD cosplayers on a silver platter, who, again, never show their face, and says, “eat up, peasant”. And. We. Do. It’s these humans that I’d like to talk about for, roughly, the next hour or so (just kidding…sort of…). Tuck in. And thank you in advance for coming to my Ted Talk.

After (extensive) research, I’ve come to many conclusions, the most important of all is the uncontested, absolute truth that gender is a fucking construct. Anyone who doesn’t believe this fact and walks through a binary understanding about life is bat shit crazy missing out. My brain hurts trying to envision such an existence.

Okay, lemme break it down for you. The characters that humans cosplay are, mostly, masculine types of characters; strong, tall, lethal in battle, and basically, you know, BDE. Any other identifiers are covered, so it’s easy to play along with the idea that the person on the screen is – excuse the limiting language – a man, right? We don’t hear their voices; they use whiteboards to communicate in lives. The videos are mostly lip-syncs or just music. Even when romances form, we celebrate the m/m love. We swoon and crush right along with them.

Here’s where the twist comes in: these humans are in fact talented shapeshifters and I. Am. Here. For. It. Whether it’s due to the threat of tiktok being taken away (at least in the US) or just fatigue from always getting into character, many of these cosplayers are taking off the mask and bravely showing their true identity. And, folks, I ask you, why are they always the most beautiful human I’ve ever seen? Is that, like, a requirement to be a cosplayer? Did all of these stunning people get together one day and decide that cosplaying on TT would be their new shared special interest? Honestly, doesn’t matter. You all could read a recipe book to me and I would be enraptured.

So back to shapeshifters. Without fail, I am duped every single time. I am fully convinced that I have been laughing, crying, blushing, feeling all of the emotions about a cis man. When all is revealed, I audibly gasp. It’s the most delicious experience to see a cis woman, trans man, trans woman, or non-binary human. And, I can’t stress this enough, they are just so so flippin gorgeous. What a time to be pansexual, amirite?

It goes beyond looks though because you gotta think, there’s probably a reason that this human was drawn to making videos in incognito mode. Presenting oneself as they are is…vulnerable. It’s scary to tell the internet, “here I am. Take it or leave it.” But playing a masked character allows them to have the freedom to take risks. They can act out scenes or dance or be sexy or silly in ways that they might not do if they were themselves. I mean, I know that I would never, ever make a TT video. Are you kidding me?

The over-thinking that goes into merely considering creating a reveal video must be overwhelming. But then actually doing it? Especially for the folks, who have built a huge following when they presented a certain way, must have a massive amount of trust in their followers. Let’s face it, the internet is oversaturated by trash babies. These creators open themselves to all of the feedback. All of it. I just want to travel around the world giving them all a hug and a thank you. Oh who am I kidding. If I was in the presence of ANY of my TT crushes, I would be barely hanging on by a thread of social decorum. Anything outside of squeaks and nervous laughter would be a true success. My flabbers would be completely gasted. Suffice it to say that no hugging would be going on. All of my energy would be relegated to keeping my ever lovin shit together.

Anyway.

Let’s all raise a glass to shapeshifters. You are all endlessly creative, talented, and beautiful, inside and out. May your light always shine bright.