One day you’re a hot cosplay chick on the cover of a Star Wars documentary popping up on everyone’s Netflix, and the next you’re a 40+ mom popping up on an obscure movie at the Dollar Tree. So obscure that it ends up on TikTok, where you find yourself defending the film as a “family-friendly” ode to Star Wars nerds, because everyone seems to think the dollar store now has nerd porn.

I’m a Jedi Junkie

For many years I owned a costume shop and made custom costumes. My most popular costume, and the one that launched my custom design business was Princess Leia’s infamous gold bikini. You can click here if you’d like to read the whole story about the Slave Leia costume, but this is about the aftermath.

It’s been more than ten years, and occasionally people still run across the movie on Amazon, where you can rent Jedi Junkies for a whole $2.99. But people don’t exactly want to pay to rent it, (or even pay $1 for it according to this TikTok) so they e-mail me to ask about my secret adult film acting career.

The funny thing is, people on TikTok are actually doubting my claim as to being the girl on the cover. As if I’d just randomly claim to be a nerdy cover girl, in an age where it’s very easy to research the truth.

Life in the Dollar Bin

I have some conflicted feelings about being tossed in the dollar bin. I’m sure many very good movies have ended up there. Not that my movie is actually very good. It’s nerdy to a cringe-inducing degree. It’s not bad. But it’s not winning any academy awards. It’s just a very honest look at a bunch of Star Wars fans.

I was happy to do the interview and be part of this documentary. I’m not just on the cover. I’m also in the documentary, where I talk about the Slave Leia costume and the different parts of it and work that goes into it. The costume I wear in the cover is actually my “lower level” costume, which was the cheapest version of the costume I made.

The costume I wear in the film, where I do the interview is the costume that started my business. It’s much more detailed and looks more like the real costume.

If you like Star Wars and geeky fans, then it’s worth a watch. Just don’t expect too much. And definitely don’t expect a sexy movie! LOL. With the amount of nerdiness on display the film is more like the antithesis of porn. And I’m sure I’ll still be explaining that when I’m 80, and my grandkids run across grandma dressed all skimpy on the cover of some Star Wars movie…

About the Author

Candy Keane is a digital content creator and long-time cosplayer, most well-known for being on the cover of the Star Wars documentary Jedi Junkies. After making costumes professionally for over a decade, she now writes about about geek culture and mom life, and continues to cosplay for fun, while sharing her love of costumes on Instagram @SewGeekMama. Her first children’s book, I’m Going to My First Comic Convention, was published in 2020 and won a Story Monsters Approved award for Excellence in Literature.

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