I have to preface this by saying that I was Tina Belcher when I was a child. For proof, please enjoy this photo of me as an eight year old. I’m at a petting zoo. Petting a goat.

When I was getting ready to attend my first Akaicon, I wanted to bring an easy but recognizable costume. Tina Belcher was a no brainer! I was already most of the way there.

I didn’t make any of the pieces for this costume. I got a light blue tee shirt and black knock off Converse sneakers from Walmart (both from the little boy’s section) and pulled a navy Forever 21 skirt and white knee socks out of my closet. The big yellow barrette was ordered from eBay and the black wig was a gift from my sister (she’s a semi-professional cosplayer and this was one she didn’t need anymore).

I also carried around a composition notebook to be my “erotic friend fiction” book. Oh…and the glasses were my own. Because of course they were.

I also might have worn the cosplay again the following year…this time for the risqué competition. That’s a whole ‘nother story (comment below if you want to hear it!) but I switched up my look to be more like Tina in the episode where Tammy gives her a makeover.