'Red Sister' cosplay draws attention at HK comics festival

The 26th Hong Kong Ani-Com & Games Fair (ACGHK) began last Friday (25 July) at the Wan Chai Convention Centre, drawing large crowds for its five-day event, featuring cosplayers embodying the trending internet topic "Red Sister" (紅姐).

This year's ACGHK boasts double the exhibition space of 2024, featuring over 600 booths showcasing anime, comics, and gaming merchandise, according to HK01. 

One of the highlights featured cosplayers portraying "Red Sister", a controversial internet personality from Nanjing whose catchphrase "Well, since I’m already here" (來都來了) has gone viral. At least three different "Red Sister" cosplayers were spotted on the show floor, creating a surreal and humorous atmosphere, according to The Standard and Sing Tao Headline.

Those cosplayers recreated Red Sister’s signature look: black tops, long shirts with flower print, paired with long skirts. One attendee amplified the homage by carrying symbolic gifts seen in Red Sister’s viral videos – a bottle of oil and a whole watermelon. 

Furthermore, a number of netizens who attended ACGHK shared photos with the cosplayer dressed as Red Sister on Threads, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE confirmed. Several netizens found it hilarious to see people cosplaying as "Red Sister."

On the other hand, the impromptu tribute has faced criticism from some traditional anime fans, who argue that the meme distracted from the primary focus on anime and gaming, according to Sing Tao Headline.

Capitalising on the trend, one exhibitor even set up a promotional board featuring related elements to advertise the booth. 

The "Red Sister" trend originates from an unimaginable criminal case in Nanjing. A 38-year-old man, who goes by the name "Red Sister" online, reportedly disguised himself as a woman to have sexual encounters with multiple men, secretly recording and selling the videos. The case attracted attention due to the profiles of the victims and the perpetrator’s extravagant personality.

On 8 July, the police confirmed that a suspect, with the surname Jiao, was apprehended on 6 July for distributing obscene content. While the legal proceedings progressed independently, the related memes, featuring gifts and catchphrases, spread through online culture in mainland and Hong Kong.

Photo courtesy: Threads accounts @curtischanct, @sunnylammusic

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