But it\u2019s not as easy as simply showing up to events in store-bought Star Wars apparel, you have to prove your passion to be a member of the Legion.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen there\u2019s a theatrical release we\u2019re very carefully looking at all the costumes in detail, and we\u2019re trying to replicate those costumes to meet or exceed theatrical standards,\u201d explained Waxman.<\/p>\n To join, members must learn to make their own costumes, to precise specifications, under an assigned mentor. From matching the number of plates on a belt for Princess Leia, to the length of the sleeves on a Jedi\u2019s tunic, all costumes must be up to par with the Legion\u2019s standards in order to troop, the term used to describe showing up in full garb to the delight of fans, whether they be movie goers or\u00a0 hospital patients.<\/p>\n While May the 4th is the Rebel Legion\u2019s busiest time of year\u2014\u201cIt\u2019s like Christmas for Star Wars fans,\u201d said Waxman\u2014having the release of a movie and being right in the throes of Disney Plus\u2019 The Mandalorian, requests are up for Legion members to spread the Star Wars cheer.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great time to be a Star Wars fan,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Waxman sees Rebel Legion as the perfect intersection between her \u201csuper nerdom,\u201d having grown up with her mom\u2019s love of classic Star Trek and attending those conventions as a kid and teenager, and charity work. She brings her mother, who is half European, half Cantonese, with her to events a couple times a month.<\/p>\n \u201cRose Tico was one of the first really big Asian female [Star Wars] characters and my mom went crazy for her and created a Rose Tico costume,\u201d she said. \u201cShe\u2019s one of our oldest troopers.\u201d<\/p>\n By day, Waxman makes a living as senior vice president of business development for a market research firm, E-Poll. On weekends, she drives to events all over Southern California to appear as Princess Leia. Over the past year, Waxman estimated she\u2019s driven 21,000 miles for the Rebel Legion, as well as the 501st Legion, a sibling organization where she\u2019s a Stormtrooper for the \u201cdark side.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFolks in these groups tend to enjoy the fandom, the cosplay, but the charity component just puts it over the top,\u201d Waxman said. \u201cI think a lot of our folks describe those visits as some of the most precious things that you can do.\u201d<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SunriderBase\/photos\/a.1897937990223747\/3733419046675623\/?type=3<\/p>\n For these events, Waxman becomes more than a weekend warrior.<\/p>\n \u201cI took half a day off on Halloween to troop in the pediatric ward at a hospital,\u201d she said. \u201cWe got the heads up that one of the patients was terminal, and that would be his last Halloween. Going there and being a part of that was absolutely incredible, to just bring some fun to this kid and his family.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/hi-lo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/image2-e1576633797464.jpeg\")
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