A few days into winter break I kept thinking to myself, “How can I show others my creative side?” I enjoy makeup, fashion and pop culture, but I did not have a clear vision of what I wanted to do with those interests. Sure, I would take an occasional selfie like everyone else and put it online, but I still felt like something was missing. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught me to make the most of my time each day and I wanted to do something that reflected who I am. But figuring out what I wanted to do was frustrating and I felt lost.

And then, I became the social media editor for The Express. I did not know what to expect when I first started, but I learned that my job consisted of promoting articles from the website, learning how to use more features on social media and monitoring all of the social media accounts. A few days later, an idea came to me: What if I posted outfit ideas inspired by Disney and other pop culture characters? I could have my own DisneyBounding Instagram account. 

DisneyBounding first started 10 years ago by blogger Leslie Kay as an alternative to cosplay or for Disney fans to wear at the parks since adults are not allowed to wear costumes according to Disney World’s website. To participate, enthusiasts look for items in their closets “inspired” by specific Disney characters or ideas, dress up, and, if they like, post their pictures to social media. The key to a DisneyBound outfit is that it shouldn’t literally replicate a character but, as one website put it, “focus on stylistic elements” (colors, accessories) that could be worn “to the office or to school.”

I’ve been a huge Disney fan since I was little and have spent my life collecting T-shirts, Funko pop figurines and other character memorabilia. I know quite a few Disney movie lines by heart. I thought this would be a perfect hobby for me—especially since I have quarantined for almost a year. 

Each month, there are different DisneyBounding challenges. After creating my Disney Instagram, I immediately searched the official DisneyBound page to look for upcoming challenges. There were two at the time: “Seasons of Bounds” and “Color Me Valentine.”

“Seasons of Bounds,” co-created by Instagrammer Carol Shiu, who prompted people to think about what Disney characters would wear during different seasons. I walked to my closet to pick out some outfits and, within minutes, clothes and shoes covered my entire floor. I assembled each outfit and looked for accessories to go with them.

I had a productive day, but I still had some doubts. What if no one liked what I created? What was something new I could present on my page? I played around with lighting and angles for photos of the outfits. I placed each outfit on the floor, carefully arranging them so they looked eye-catching and took pictures. Then I did some photo editing and added colorful backgrounds that I thought would suit each photo. 

I had everything I needed for that week. After my first post, I received a lot of positive feedback and followers from the DisneyBounding community. I felt so happy because I now knew people who shared the same interests as me. Some of the Instagrammers I spoke to also started their accounts during the pandemic, so it gave me hope that it was not too late to start. 

My favorite part of each day was posting to my Instagram story. I decorated each story item with animated digital stickers and music that corresponded with the themes like the early 2000s, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel.

At times I felt overwhelmed because many people who post have professional cameras, photo studios and lots of expensive accessories. But I realized this, like so many other things we’re doing in quarantine, was about having fun and getting creative with items I already owned. 

I might not have name brand items or different shoes for each outfit, but I loved showing how versatile accessories can be. When I reuse shoes or accessories, I try to space them out so they do not overlap on my page; but sometimes it is effective to show multiple outfits that can be styled interchangeably. 

Shortly after I added to  “Seasons of Bounds,” I saw that Instagrammer and digital creator Courtney Quinn was about to start another challenge. “Color Me Valentine” spanned over 14 days of outfits leading up to the last day, Valentine’s Day. Red and pink are two of my favorite colors, so I knew I had enough outfits for this challenge. Now that I had interacted with others in the DisneyBounding community, I felt a bit more comfortable with posting on my account. 

Once again, my floor was completely covered with clothes and shoes as I planned the outfits for this challenge, but this time I made a list of all the prompts and checked each one off as outfits came to mind. For inspiration, I watched a few princess movies on Disney+. I took note of all the color schemes and styles of clothing to recreate.

When the challenge began, I wondered what kind of reaction I’d get to my posts. My self-doubting inner-voice spoke up again: “Courtney has thousands of followers. Would she even notice my posts?” A few hours went by and I would check my phone periodically. Then, my phone screen lit up with a “like” from Courtney. She continued to “like” my photos throughout the challenge. Additionally, I received very positive comments from other DisneyBounding creators. 

I felt a sense of belonging. This made me happy because I finally connected with people who understand me. Even prior to the pandemic I felt some sort of isolation from everyone else because only a select few of my friends are Disney fans. But, now I know that I am not alone and I am continuing to connect with other DisneyBounders. 

In March, the DisneyBound community is celebrating its 10-year anniversary and the challenge will last for 31 days. I have already pulled together some of my outfits for photos—including a Disney and Clueless crossover—and I’m very excited for what will come.