Rachel Steele is an actress and social media personality who has recently gained attention for her fan-produced Wonder Woman
Listen to her roar.
1. The Fan Film as a Genre of Devotion
Fan films exist in a legal and aesthetic gray zone: they borrow copyrighted characters without permission but operate on shoestring budgets, driven by passion rather than profit. Rachel Steele, a longtime stuntwoman and cosplayer, exemplifies this devotion. Her Wonder Woman 1 was self‑financed, shot on location in natural landscapes (forests, cliffs, and urban back alleys), and featured Steele herself in the iconic costume. Unlike parody or quick fight choreography reels, Steele’s film runs over thirty minutes and prioritizes narrative. It opens with Diana (Steele) already in Man’s World, working as a museum curator—a nod to the classic “Diana Prince” alias—while secretly thwarting a weapons smuggling ring linked to Ares’ remnants. The film’s limited resources (non‑professional actors, consumer cameras, minimal CGI) are not hidden but embraced, evoking the DIY spirit of early superhero serials. In this context, the “work” of the title refers both to Wonder Woman’s heroic labor and to Steele’s own labor of production: scripting, costuming, choreographing fights, and editing. The final product is a testament to how fan works can embody the essence of a character more faithfully than some high‑budget adaptations.
The 1997 Artwork
: Pérez, famous for his defining run on Wonder Woman (Vol. 2), created a special piece of art in 1997 featuring Rachel Steele as Wonder Woman [3].
In this inaugural work, we find Diana Prince operating in a gritty, unnamed metropolis. Unlike the bright colors of Themyscira, Steele’s world is shadowy and industrial.
While the viral challenge is her most prominent link to the character, Rachel Steele has multiple profiles in the entertainment industry: Acting and Producing : She is listed on for work on major films like Man of Steel Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Comic Book Influence : Professional bios indicate she is a fan of