She is more than just a Star Trek fan. She is a black bisexual Muslim woman who decided to give the online (and offline) world something to talk about.
Blair Imani adapted Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge's, the character played by LeVar Burton in Star Trek: The Next Generation, costume to include a hijab. She wore the black and yellow costume to the 2019 Comic-Con International in San Diego. Naturally, she caught the attention of many, including Burton himself.
"Best cosplay of Geordi, EVER... courtesy of my friend Blair Imani. Thank you, little Sister, you honor not only me, but all the kids out there who saw LaForge as a hero," Burton wrote in a tweet.
She also took a moment to remind the haters, and those criticizing her for adding the hijab to the costume, that "diversity is key to Roddenberry's vision." In 1968, it became one of the first TV shows to include an interracial kiss.
Roddenberry, for those who don't know, is the American television screenwriter, producer and creator of the original Star Trek TV series.
"Jummah Mubarak to every Muslim across the galaxy"
The 25-year-old has been a fan of Star Trek for ages and wanted to flaunt her love for the sci-fi series while embracing her Muslim faith.
"I've been thinking for a long time about how to pay homage to him [Burton] and how to really thank him," Imani told TODAY Style.
"But beyond that, I've been a big fan of 'Star Trek' for a long time. Just the messages of diversity really speak to me and I think to a lot of other folks."
Burton was taken away by the epic cosplay
"Some people didn't like my hijab being added to a Star Fleet uniform"
"Even though well executed, I’d hope we’d be beyond religious garb and symbolism in the future," one user tweeted in response to the cosplay.
Imani pointed out the reality of things in response to an inquiry on Twitter.
"Are other cosplayers asked about why they are gender-bending or mashing up characters? I doubt it. I hate that your hijab is the focus not the killer cosplay!" the user asked Imani.
Her response?
Though she got some hate, an outpouring stream of love came rushing in
"This is legit awesome"
Imani also took to Twitter to let her followers know that she will be breaking out two new cosplays at the upcoming Star Trek convention in Las Vegas at the end of the month.
"I’m going to do TWO SEPARATE Star Trek #TheNextGeneration cosplays for Star Trek Las Vegas," she wrote.
