Television in the early 1980s relied heavily on practical optical framing. Directors Richard T. Heffron and Kenneth Johnson wanted Diana to embody an apex predator: coiled, elegant, and physically dominant. Badler brought a classical, dancer-like discipline to the set, holding her spine rigid and locking her gaze without blinking during close-ups.
That stillness created an illusion of size. Costume designer Brienne Glyttov fitted Badler with militaristic jumpsuits featuring sharp, elevated epaulets and wide shoulder cuts. These silhouettes visually widened her upper torso, making her head appear smaller and her neck longer, classic stage tricks to imply vertical height.
Footwear completed the transformation. While human rebel leader Mike Donovan, played by Marc Singer, sprinted through sets in broken-in sneakers and work boots, Visitor officers wore heeled, custom-molded tactical footwear. These boots quietly added nearly three inches to Badler's baseline height. Whenever Diana shared a shot with male sub-commanders, directors often positioned her on raised ship deck platforms or shot upward from waist height, forcing the audience to look directly up into her eyes.
