If you're not popular,
you're fucked.

Only the popular will survive and if you piss someone off for any reason everyone will turn against you regardless if you have actually done something wrong.

The few decide the fate
of the many

Once a cosplayer reaches a certain level of popularity, they then become some omnipotent being, above everyone else. They can choose who will and will not succeed. From rigged contests to rumours and slander.

Blatant disregard for peoples feelings, childish gossip and chinese whispers are a thing seen every day. Even a strong, good person will eventually crumble under the massive toxicity that is seen.

On one hand you will be criticised for something, so you turn around and try something else, only to turn back and see the very people that were attacking you, now doing the very thing they attacked you for.