Cosplay Saved My Life | SHAKE MY BEAUTY

A ‘REAL LIFE living doll’ with an incurable condition says cosplay saved her life. Amber Guzman, 32, has muscular dystrophy, a disease which causes muscles to deteriorate over time. She identifies as a ‘living doll’ because her condition has left her so weak, she cannot walk long distances and often needs to be carried around. The cosplayer has attracted followers on social media with her outlandish costume designs which incorporate her wheelchair. Amber said: “It’s an illness that kills off your muscles and makes it hard for you to rebuild your muscles. After the muscular dystrophy developed, she found daily activities were becoming more difficult. “I struggled to pick up my tools for cosplay or even just doing my makeup. Amber took solace in her cosplay, using it to distract herself from her rapidly developing condition. “Year after year I would lose another ability. I needed help to get off of the toilet, into the shower, into the bed. That’s why cosplay means so much to me because it saved me from having to think about that a lot. Now, Amber is championing cosplay for the disabled community. When the cosplayer attends conventions she says she’s inundated with requests for pictures by fans of her work. “I love incorporating my wheelchair into my cosplay. You just don’t see it so it’s rare.” Amber lives with her husband Martin. They met when Amber was 17. Martin has been there before Amber’s diagnosis. Martin said: “I use her as motivation. I’m so grateful to have her and both of us learned so much from this illness.” Amber hopes to inspire other people with disabilities through her cosplay.