I, Wonder stands at 2m tall and portrays my friend Leonie Dean ( @tenacious_wheelchair_warrior ) in her handcrafted Wonder Woman cosplay. While she's enjoyed cosplaying many different characters, Wonder Woman has come to mean something special for Leonie, a source of strength and inspiration while dealing with some particularly difficult challenges including facing life with a disability and being a full time wheelchair user. An important touchstone for Leonie is that Wonder Woman always retains her kindness and empathy even when asked to do extraordinary things.
Leonie inspires even as she draws inspiration from the character and the costume. She poses in her chair which has become an important tool for her own empowerment; a part of her identity, but not defining it. She is forward and strong.
The Greek frieze behind her alludes to her love of horses and riding which she continues to do. The cats by her feet are reminders of loss and hope as Dodge (aka the Ginger Ninja) died during the making of the painting, but Jackie Chan continues to huddle close.
Her empathy is obvious in the way she loves doing charity events especially for children who are unwell or disabled themselves. Wonder Woman and her chair help them see that they can still be whatever they want- they can still be a superhero... that they are superheroes.
