Q&A with Steampunk Model/Enthusiast Nivi Hicks

We recently talked to steampunk model/enthusiast Nivi Hicks about her steampunk influences, being a model of color, and running Salt City Steamfest. 

On *Not* Being a Liketivist

As a black person who’s like science fiction, comics and other geeky things, it’s sometimes easy to sound like a broken record: “Why don’t any of these characaters look like me?” “Why is the black person the sidekick?” “Why is the black woman here to be sassy comic relief?” And the biggest, most over-asked question of them all: “When is [insert other mainstream nerdy interest group here aka Marvel, DC, Hollywood, etc.] going to start taking us seriously?” Well, for me, 2015 was the year of taking us seriously. And 2016 will be the same.