01 John Boyega, known for portraying Finn in
the Star Wars sequel trilogy, poses for a photo
opportunity with Doug and his daughter, Mya.
02 Doug and and Mya are also the proud owners
of a photograph signed by Boyega.02
74 / STAR WARS INSIDERWORLDWIDECosplaythatreaches
acrossthegenerationsI
ntroduced to the galaxy far, far
away by her mother and aunt,
Kelsey Ledford cannot remember
a time when she didn’t love Star
Wars. “I’m pretty sure they propped
me up in front of the TV as a baby,”
laughs Ledford. “Star Wars is a
family story, and it’s an important
part of my family and how my mom
raised me,” she adds.
“I always appreciated Carrie
Fisher,” says Ledford’s mom, Heather
Wictum. “Her humor and sassiness,
as well as her brutal honesty, were
important models for me during a
time in when the women’s movement
was finally gaining a toehold.”
“Star Wars is really leading the
way in showing female characters
that don’t always have to fit perfect
stereotypes,” Ledford says. “They are
complex and human, and there’s
something I relate to in all of them.”
Professional coder Ledford most
identifies with Rey’s technical skills,so when it came to creating themed
cosplay outfits for a convention,
Rey’s The Last Jedi costume was
the perfect choice. They combined
forces to craft mom Heather’s choice
to dress as her hero, General Leia.
“We geek out over costumes,” says
mom. “We shop for fabrics and text
each other with ideas.”
Ledford has also been known to
cosplay as Jyn Erso and Lieutenant
Connix, but she and her mother are
not the only members of their family
dressing to impress. Their rebellious
band also includes Ledford’s sister
Brynna as a Jedi, her aunt as Maz
Kanata, her cousin as a ‘roller derby
R2-D2,’ and her grandmother as
Princess Leia, complete with classic
hair buns. “People get a real kick out
of seeing a woman in her eighties
having a blast, rolling around a
convention in a BB-8-inspired
wheelchair,” reports Ledford.
The family also does volunteer
work at charitable events, which
have included a visit to Children’s
Hospital Los Angeles—an outing that
struck home for Ledford. “My sister
had a brief stay there as a child,” she
explains. “I was really grateful to be
able to cheer up families going
through hard times, as my family had
when I was a kid.”THE FORCE
IS STRONG IN
THIS FAMILY
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oug and his daughter Mya created a
priceless family memory when they
met John Boyega, everyone’s favorite
former First Order stormtrooper turned
Resistance hero from the Star Wars sequel
trilogy, at Awesome Con last year.
Doug attended Boyega’s panel, where the
actor spoke about his gaming interests and
praised the late Carrie Fisher. The next day,
Doug took his daughter along too, and “she
was totally enamored by John at the photo
op and autograph session,” he recalls.
The friendly encounter made a
lasting impression, and Boyega signed a
photograph and a Disney Elite figure for
them. “He then gave my girl one last high
five, capping off a memorable Daddy/
Daughter experience,” says Doug.01