4K to 12K in a Weekend?!: A Overwhelmed Thank You & Reintroduction

Well.

That escalated quickly.

Over the weekend, this little corner of the internet went from 4,000 to 12,000 followers on Instagram. TikTok is hovering just shy of 20,000. I refreshed the analytics more times than I care to admit (for research purposes, obviously), and at one point I genuinely wondered if someone had pressed the wrong button.

But no, apparently, thousands of you have voluntarily joined what I lovingly refer to as the Geeky Tribe.

So first: thank you. Truly.

If you’re new here, this feels like the perfect moment to reintroduce myself, what I do, why I do it, and what you can expect now that you’ve found your way into my slightly chaotic, latex-scented corner of sci-fi academia.

Who Am I (Beyond the Seven of Nine Eyebrow)?

I’m Leah, also known as Leah Sci-Fi.

By day, I’m a Creative Industries Lecturer in the UK, specialising in hair, makeup, prosthetics, fashion imagery, creative business and AI in the arts/education. I’ve worked as a hair and makeup/SFX artist across theatre, fashion campaigns and broadcast, with credits including BBC, ZEE TV, ASOS, Sony Music and M&S. I’m also trained in AI through the University of Oxford, which means I think far too deeply about androids, augmentation and what it means to be human.

By night (and sometimes by day), I build prosthetics, analyse science fiction as cultural commentary, and occasionally turn myself into members of the Borg Collective.

Yes, this is a very specific niche. No, I would not have it any other way.

What I Actually Do Here

If you followed me for a cosplay transformation — welcome.

If you followed me for a slightly over-analytical breakdown of Star Trek design language — welcome.

If you followed me because you wanted to see my Star Trek ship collection — you are absolutely in the right place.

This platform sits at the intersection of:

• Sci-fi and cultural commentary

• Prosthetics and Makeup design

• Identity, representation and design

• Sci-Fi collection show and tells

• Fandom as serious creative practice

  
  

I don’t just recreate characters, I explore what they mean.

When I build a Borg Queen prosthetic, it isn’t just about accuracy, it’s about examining augmentation, autonomy and the aesthetics of control. When I analyse Seven of Nine, it’s about identity reclamation and post-human femininity. When I talk about cosplay, it’s about embodiment and creative agency.

Also sometimes it’s just about glue and whether I can still move my eyebrows.

Balance.

Why This Growth Matters

Going from 4K to 12K in a weekend is more than just numbers, It’s a confirmation that thoughtful geeky content has an audience.

It tells me that:

• People are hungry for intelligent fandom conversations.

• Practical artistry still matters in an algorithm-heavy world.

• You can be both academic and playful.

• You can love science fiction deeply and still critique it.

  
  

For years, fandom spaces have been dismissed as trivial. But speculative worlds shape real-world imagination. They influence technology, representation, politics, design and identity. The Geeky Tribe isn’t just here for costumes, you’re here for conversation and that is more powerful than a lot of people realise.

Leah SciFi - Q of the Universe

What You Can Expect Going Forward

Firstly: more.

More builds. More breakdowns. More deep dives into sci-fi design and cultural impact. More behind-the-scenes prosthetics processes (including my current Borg Queen building series — which did indeed involve covering my whole head and chest in silicone and a significant amount of trust).

Specifically, you can expect:

• Full prosthetic build series across platforms

• Character design analysis from Star Trek, Star Wars and beyond

• Honest insights into teaching, industry and creative careers

• Full cosplay making

• Live demos and event appearances

• The occasional slightly chaotic transformation

And yes, humour. Because if we can’t laugh while dressed as a Klingon, what are we even doing?

What I Can Offer (Beyond the Internet)

For those who’ve joined from industry or academia, hello, and thank you for being here!

I speak and deliver workshops on:

• Prosthetics and SFX techniques

• Makeup demonstrations

• Cosplay as cultural commentary

• Design language in science fiction

• Fandom as legitimate creative practice

• Cosplay Judging and Hosting

I’ve delivered live demonstrations and talks at conventions and academic events, and I’m expanding into more guest speaking, workshops and collaborations.

So if you’re here thinking, “Could she talk at our event?” the answer is yes. Probably while dressed as an Alien Princess.

A Thank You to the Geeky Tribe

To those who’ve been here since the 4K days: thank you for sticking around when the algorithm was indifferent and my prosthetic building chaos.

To the new followers: thank you for trusting me with your scroll time.

Community doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through conversation, shared curiosity and the willingness to say, “Actually, I think this matters.”

You’ve made it clear that this does matter.

And I don’t take that lightly.

The Slightly Emotional Bit

I’ve always believed that fandom is rehearsal for the future. We test identities, we explore ethics, we imagine alternatives.

Seeing these numbers shows many people engage with that idea, not just the surface-level aesthetic, but the deeper discussion, is genuinely encouraging.

So whether you’re here for prosthetic glue tips, Sci-Fi analysis, Star Trek collection showcase or simply because you enjoy watching someone voluntarily encase themselves in plaster… welcome.

You are officially part of the Geeky Tribe.

Resistance is futile.

But curiosity is encouraged.