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[Champion Model Rework] High heels don't fit Leona's personality

Helga Smash·10/24/2014, 3:19:10 PM·5 votes·1,226 views

Dear Riot,

Because you are in the process of updating game models and the rift as we speak, I felt it relevant to voice my displeasure now more than ever: I am extremely displeased that Leona's art and character model depict her wearing high-heels.

Leona is a strong, heavily armored WARRIOR. She is powerful and deserves to be respected as the Tanky-Support that she is. And I strongly believe that her wearing high-heels in her default skin is an affront to this image and is demeaning to her proud character. She is not to be likened to the characters Miss Fortune or Nidalee (to name but a few) which are obviously sexualized.

I feel that the inclusion of champions that empower the female image without overly sexualizing them, like with Kayle and Leona, can do nothing but positive things for Riot's image. A large portion of videogamers, and the world, are female, after all.

Sincerely, Helga Smash Support and Leona Main

10 Comments

Final GirI10/24/2014, 5:55:56 PM4 votes

To be completely honest, when I'm playing a game of League, I'm 100% not looking at the champions choice in footwear.

The Neverworld10/24/2014, 5:21:42 PM3 votes

Ever thought of Leona being an individual like you and me? Why can't Leona choose herself what she wants to wear? Why does she has to make herself unpleasant, only to prove that she should be treated "equally" even though she's a woman?

What I see is a woman. She has a goal in her life. She has power to save those in needs and smite the villains. Who are we to doubt her style of fashion? Who are we to think that she has to wear certain clothes? She herself is a living Character. If she wants to fight with High-Heels, then don't doubt her - better assist her in this choice. Though Leona can act sometimes masculine, she's still a woman.

Helga Smash10/24/2014, 10:02:58 PM2 votes

I didn't mean to insinuate that heels automatically make someone into a tramp.

However, I do believe that heels are highly impractical for the battlefield and seem out of place on Leona, who was born and raised to battle. Heels greatly hinder movement in battle and, even if they allow for more painful curb-stomps, I don't see Leona doing so--I feel like her character is too honorable for that (she fights to defend and protect and dislikes killing). You can have ornate footwear that's also practical.

If Leona herself wants to wear heels, then fine, let her wear heels. But I'm just not getting that vibe from her current lore.

Tyvani10/25/2014, 6:40:48 AM2 votes

I don't approve of Leona wearing heels as an armored tank of a woman, but I do see where it'd fit into an aesthetic. Leona is certainly very decorative, being a figurehead of the Solari and an avatar of the Sun, and her weapons are literally relics from the last Chosen of the Sun. Considering that she's almost a goddess among men, people would want her to look very ornate and over-the-top. Why she'd wear those same decorative heels into the battefield, though, I don't know. It isn't practical and it probably doesn't suit her as much as others might think, especially considering she was born and raised amongst the Rakkor. Nevertheless, I'm not really bothered by it either way. I do kinda like her running animation? I dunno. But, besides that, the model change would be a very low priority.

TenshouSNK11/7/2014, 5:04:13 AM2 votes

I agree, they should remove the heels and do a VU

Greedalox10/24/2014, 6:04:01 PM2 votes

She's making a fashionable choice that coincides with utility. Heels hurt to be curb stomped with after she stabs you in the tummy and bashes you upside the head with a shield so you hit the floor.

Her armor is also seriously ornate, let her wear a heel if she wants to without being insinuated as a tramp. It's a heel.

Lumus Avatar10/24/2014, 4:42:12 PM2 votes

Can't be falling over on the battlefield for fashion's sake. Tanky Support Leona 4 lyfe