A woman who is unrecognisable when she dresses up in “full goth” says she gets “yelled at in public and people call her names – but she won’t stop expressing herself for anyone.
Camille Cox dove into the subculture last year, filling her wardrobe with all things black and investing in monochrome make-up.
The 21-year-old describes herself as a “baby bat” – a term typically used by older goths to describe those just starting out their journey.
Camille, who grew up in a “strict traditional household”, says dressing this way makes her “feel alive.”
But the trolling is relentless.
“Growing up, I noticed that I was different to the other girls at school,” the cosmetologist told What’s The Jam.
“I wanted black hair, black clothes and dark features.
“I remember when I first did my eyeliner all big and teased my hair into a bat’s nest – I swear my heart jumped out of my chest.
“I had never been that excited to be in my own skin before.
“It’s truly a thrilling experience to dive outside the norm and just live as yourself.”
But when she’s in public, Camille isn’t always met with the nicest welcome.
She said: “Occasionally people will shout out ‘emo’ or something like that – it’s just people yelling at me.
“I find it funny when people try to be mean or insult my appearance.
“How can you be mad at something you know nothing about?”
Camille doesn’t wear “full goth” every day as it is a time-consuming process that can take as long as two hours to get ready.
But when she does, friends and family barely recognise her.
She said: “I just dress however I’m feeling for that day or that occasion.
“Full traditional goth is time-consuming.
“It’s also really hard on my hair and my skin.
“I typically prefer to wear less makeup when I’m out in social settings because I tend to get easily over-stimulated by the weight of what is on my face.
“However, sometimes you’ll catch me at the grocery store looking a bit like Robert Smith from The Cure.
“My family think it’s cool for the most part!
“I think it was a bit of a shock to them at first but they quickly realised I’m still the same person they always knew me to be.”
And to anyone also wanting to branch out with a new look, she says to just go for it.
Camille added: “Worst case scenario, you find out it isn’t for you and you move along with a new super cool life experience and maybe some new friends.
“There’s really no right or wrong as long as you are making an effort.
“We all start somewhere!”
