Carissa Ann Santos, 24
Booth girls seem both approachable and unattainable. Is that fair?
I definitely get that vibe from some of the girls here, or at other trade shows that I’ve worked, but it’s interesting because I’m super-friendly and super-approachable. I don’t want to fall into that category of the unattainable model.
What other kind of modeling work do you do?
I work for a few fashion designers in New York City, and I also do a lot of fitness modeling, and some print stuff.
What could a nerd here at Comic Con do to get your number?
Surprisingly, I’ve given out my number a lot at this show [laughs]. I’m just really into all sorts of people. They just have to be authentic and really genuine, and not approach me like I’m an unattainable cartoon character, but just a person, like you. That’s all.
What kind of guys do you go for?
I don’t think I necessarily have a type, but I do usually find myself with someone in a band. I’m also into saving the earth — which sounds really silly ’cause I’m at Comic Con with a bunch of superheroes — but for me it just means concentrating on purifying my body and the planet, so I find myself seeking out people who are on that wavelength. I know it sounds nerdy, but booth girls can be nerdy, too.
Do you have other nerdy proclivities of your own, or is this really a day job?
I’m into raw food, which a lot of people think is nerdy. I’m also into eco villages and sustainable farming, so that’s pretty bad, but in relation to Comic Con, I usually just tell people Spider-Man is my boyfriend. I have a heart locket with Peter Parker in it. That’s about as nerdy as I get.
You’ve been spending a lot of time in costume here. What costumes do you find attractive on others?
Spider-Man. I mean, someone came over here before in a Spider-Man outfit, head-to-toe. I don’t even know what he looked like, and I was like, “Can you please touch me?” He actually lifted me over his shoulders, like that rescue hold. It was the highlight of my weekend.
If that’s the best experience you’ve had, what’s the worst experience you’ve had here at Comic Con?
I actually had something of a stalker. He just creeped around the booth all weekend, and then he came by with presents in these little paper bags for me. They were these strange heart necklaces. It was just really awkward, because I’m very friendly, and I’m working so I want everyone to feel comfortable, but I was super uncomfortable. I had to be like, “How many pictures do you want with me?” so that was intense. It was unpleasant, ’cause I don’t like being aggressive with anybody, but I felt like I had to.
Do you ever feel objectified?
I usually do feel objectified doing this stuff, but at Comic Con, I know that it’s for a greater purpose. It’s not just about me and how I look — I’m representing a show, or a network. It’s more fun. Plus I get to wear this crazy makeup, so it’s not just like, “Hey, I want your body,” y’know?
Do you ever get away with anything because of your good looks?
In life or as a booth girl?
How about both?
Yeah, I think I do. I’m not sure that I’m proud of it, or necessarily want it. Not waiting on lines, getting free things — I think it’s a bonus of being a model, or just a pretty girl, but it’s really not necessary. I’ve never wanted it.
Why are booth girls better in bed?
One thing would be that people just look at us a lot in general. We kind of have this edge where we think we’re beautiful, so it allows us to be more open, more comfortable with ourselves. I’m not saying that someone who isn’t a model or a booth girl couldn’t feel that way, but if I had to give a tip, it’d just be try not to be insecure. Just say, “I know I’m hot, I know I’ve got this,” and go for it.
Are you in a relationship at the moment?
Yes, I’ve actually been dating someone for three years, which is a very long time for me to be in a committed relationship. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy committed relationships — I’m just not sure that they’re natural. There are a lot of incredible beings out there and it’s amazing to experience different types and different tastes. But I do love him, and the fact that we live together helps.
How can I convince my girlfriend to wear a costume for me in bed?
Don’t make any type of comparison. You don’t want to make your girlfriend feel like she’s less than the person she’s dressing up as. I think sharing her beauty and really acknowledging how gorgeous she is, how wonderful she makes you feel, would create a space for her to want to express and experience new things with you. It’s about acknowledging who she is for you, sexually, and then making it an adventure you can have together, for both of you.
If someone cheats on you, what should you do?
I’ve been in that situation before. I stayed in the relationship, but I created this distance between us which allowed me to cheat on him. It just wasn’t very stable or healthy for either of us. Now that I’ve grown as a person, I believe anything can be resolved with communication. I don’t think that he or I cheating would break us up. I think it’d create a space to figure things out. Obviously, cheating doesn’t work, so what would make him cheat? What can I do? What can he do? It could actually be grounds to make a stronger relationship. I’m not encouraging you to cheat — I’m just saying it doesn’t have to be the end.
Tiffany Perry, 26
Booth girls seem both approachable and unattainable. Is that fair?
I think that kind of depends on the booth girl. The ones that are hired from modeling agencies, most of them have no idea about anything regarding the comic book culture, and they definitely have a strange approach to dealing with people because they kind of treat people as if they were Hooters girls, where they know they have to be nice, but they could care less. They bear it as long as they can benefit financially from it… but then there are some booth girls, and I think I fall into this only because I have a bit of comic book knowledge, who find a genuine joy for dressing as characters. You can’t give people an attitude about taking a picture with you while wearing this ridiculous costume.
What could a nerd here at Comic Con do to get your number?
It really all depends on the approach. If they’re a little too nerdy in the sense that they start spewing random facts at me, it’s a little too intense and I don’t find that attractive. But if they’re lightheartedly joking a bit about the cuture and showing they’re self-aware, and if they know who I’m dressed as, those are usually good signs.
What kind of guys do you go for?
In my past, I’ve almost exclusively dated death-metal guys. Lately, my preferences have been a little different, because I’ve realized that my previous choices didn’t really work very well. I’ve opened myself up to different types of guys that I had never considered before.
Do you have any nerdy proclivities of your own, or is this strictly a day job?
I am definitely a lover of fantasy fiction. I always have been. I’m also been into writing and English literature. Honestly, I really loved that Gnomeo and Juliet movie — I love gnomes, but I also loved that they kept dropping these silly puns about Shakespeare. I thought that was fantastic. That means I’m even more nerdy.
You’ve been spending a lot of time in costume here. What costumes do you find attractive on others?
I like tougher characters. Not so much the stuff where they’re overly girly or their costume isn’t useful. I prefer a costume with a utility belt, when they’ve got some realistic props. As if they were really going to walk out to the street and start fighting crime. You can be sexy and be tough.
What’s the worst experience you’ve had here at Comic Con?
I haven’t had any really awful experiences yet, but there are some instances where guys will linger and talk to you. That’s an awkward situation, because on one hand, I’m representing a company so I can’t be rude, but sometimes they refuse to take the hint that I’m not interested in them — I’m just trying to be friendly while they’re near our merchandise. There are also some guys who get argumentative because they need to prove that I don’t have all the knowledge on my character. Unless I’m saying something glaringly incorrect, I don’t think they need to nitpick the details.
Do you ever feel objectified?
Only as much as I’ve been willing to objectify myself. I understand I look cute and I’m obviously wearing costumes that are fetishized in some way. I don’t feel the need to fetishize myself. Overly provocative poses I will say no to, but more playful stuff I don’t mind. I haven’t felt fully objectified because I’ve done my best to stop it.
Do you ever get away with anything because of your good looks?
Sure. I mean, I’m a girl, so I definitely get away with a lot more than you think. I believe people are more lenient with me than if one of my male counterparts had said or tried the same thing. One time, I forgot my pass, and things were closing up. I just told the security guy that I had a booth there, and he said, “Oh, okay, keep walking.” He didn’t care to verify it or anything. If I were a dude, it might have been trickier than that.
Why are booth girls better in bed?
I honesty think it depends on the person. You can’t just assume they’d be experienced. Maybe their willingness to be hired as a booth babe means they’re willing to experiment a little bit more.
Do you have time for guys, or are you too busy?
I’m fairly busy. I work full time and I take dance classes, and I’m also completing an online masters degree right now. But I’ve found that if someone is willing to work with my schedule as much as I’m willing to work with theirs, it’s doable. Everyone at our age is so overwhelmed with getting ahead, so it’s just about the willingness to be flexible.
How can I convince my girlfriend to wear a costume for me in bed?
I feel like that’d be easier than convincing someone to dress up for a Comic Con, just because it’s not in public. Just explain why you find that character so attractive, and why you think your partner would make that character better for you.
If someone cheats on you, what should you do?
Oh, I wouldn’t handle that very well [laughs]. For me, that’s an automatic end of the relationship. I could go into my philosophy about it, but essentially I believe once you’ve been cheated on, it’s over.
Dana Braziel, 25
Booth girls seem both approachable and unattainable. Is that fair?
It’s fair enough to say, but there’s a variety of reasons for that. For example, I’ll also work the booth for my web site, where I’m wearing just a T-shirt. Sometimes guys come by and snap my photo, and when I try to talk to them, they put their hand up. I can’t describe to you the feeling of them going, “I don’t want to talk to you. You’re just here for me to gawk at.”
What’s the worst encounter you’ve had at ComicCon?
This one guy grabbed my boob. I was working the booth for my company. I had a T-shirt on with the company name on it. This guy was supposedly a staff photographer and he was taking pictures of me in the company shirt in front of our banner — the slogan is “Get Geeked” — and after he stopped taking pictures, he just slid his hand onto the side of my boob and said something about getting geeked, and I freaked out. I was alone at the booth, so I turned to the curtain behind me and shouted, “This guy grabbed my tit!” They put him in handcuffs but we couldn’t get him arrested cause I live out in L.A. But they did make him cry, which I was happy about. I’ve had friends who’ve had a lot of nasty encounters, so I was pretty happy about it.
What could a polite nerd here at Comic Con do to get your number?
If someone had a really good conversation with me about the booth, and was cute, I would be much more willing to do it than if someone just saw my little schoolgirl uniform and asked for it off the bat. Also, I live in L.A., so if I’m at a convention out here, I’m a lot less likely to give it out. I’m a lot more likely to do it if I’m talking to someone who knows what they’re talking about — someone who has a genuine interest in what I like.
What kind of nerdy proclivities do you have of your own?
Well, my day job is working for a company called Geek Chic Daily. It’s a website that talks about all sorts of geek culture — movies, television, video games, comic books. I’m the social-media outreach coordinator. I love sci-fi, I grew up on Star Trek, I love costuming — for Halloween, I’ll make the most elaborate costumes like the Corpse Bride or someone from Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s all about fantasy, really. I’ve been through a lot of shit in my life, so what I want in a movie or a book is really an escape — I want pirates and princesses, adventure and romance. Whether it’s Star Trek or something from Tim Burton, I want something that’s not in my everyday life. Batman, too. I love Batman.
What costumes do you find attractive on others?
Personally, my favorite comic-book character is the Riddler, but everyone I’ve seen dress as him has had a horrible costume. I have noticed that girls really like it when a guy dresses up as Wolverine. I mean, Spider-Man can be a cool costume, but you have to have something commissioned to make a good Wolverine — and I’m not talking about just a shirtless Logan. I’m talking about the full-on, yellow bodysuit. You have to have a good costume and be in shape. Girls love a good Wolverine.
Do you ever get away with anything because of your good looks?
Oh yeah. I’ve noticed the difference between when I do and don’t wear makeup. When you “pretty up,” you get treated so differently. People are nicer to you and even take more interest in what you’re saying. Being an attractive female does hurt sometimes, because you think people don’t take you seriously, but everyone wants to talk to a pretty girl. Even other girls want to talk to pretty girls. Little girls love talking to pretty girls, because they want to be like them when they grow up. It’s like in Interview With A Vampire — the little girl becomes a vampire and she can’t grow up. Then she sees this beautiful French woman and says, “Why can’t I be her? I want to be her!”
What makes a booth girl better in bed?
Actually, I would say a lot of those pretty girls can be lazy. Sometimes you want someone who’s a little feistier. You’ve got to be careful, because some girls think they just have to look good. You can’t just lie there. You’ve got to do something, too.
Do you have time for guys, or are you too busy?
Um… I make time where I need to. I do have someone I’ve been seeing regularly for a while.
How can I convince my girlfriend to wear a costume for me in bed?
Just be honest. Tell her that it’s your fantasy and that you’d like to try it. Take her shopping, offer to dress her up. A lot of girls would be fine with that if a guy said, “This is what I like” and took the time to show her and hold her hand through it. It can be scary, because when you dress up — you could have known them for ten years, it’s still scary to get naked in front of them. You feel silly sometimes, because you’re in such a vulnerable state. For someone who doesn’t do it a lot, it’s kind of like being naked in front of the whole world.
If someone cheats on you, what should you do?
Something like thirty to fifty percent of people cheat. It’s a harsh reality. You learn that the way to deal with something like that is to look at it as a problem you have to tackle together, not as someone doing something to you. But if my boyfriend were to do that… I’m close enough with him that I think I know about everyone in his life. If that happened with somebody I know, I’d wonder why he could be with that person when he could be with me. I don’t think I’d handle it well.
