Linda Le

Born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma to a family of Vietnamese immigrants,[6] Le moved to and grew up in San Jose, California[3] where she graduated with a business degree from San Jose State University while doing various odd jobs.[10] She later studied hairstyling from Paul Mitchell's in the U.S., Toni & Guy in London,[6] as well as in Tokyo,[4] before returning to America where she began teaching makeup and modeling. She has been dressing up as classic anime and video game characters since she was 12.[8]

Linda Le posing as Jun from Gatchaman in 2013

Her early fame came after some of her cosplays were featured in the showcase book Otacool 2[11] by Japanese toy and collectible company Kotobukiya.[12] Le then collaborated with Street Fighter artist Long Vo to create artwork and a comic for Udon Entertainment's book VENT, as well as with Sideshow Collectibles' sculptor Tim Miller, theCHIVE,[13][14] Gibson Guitar Corporation,[15] KusoVinyl,[8] Myx TV,[16][17] Manga Entertainment UK and Bang Zoom! Entertainment,[18] Jessica Chobot,[19] and other artists and companies in the USA and Japan.[20] Le is a part of costume and armor prop-making group Team Mantium Designs,[20] later renamed Mantium Industries,[21] and a video gamer sponsored by Mad Catz.[20] Le has been writing a column for YouBentMyWookie[22] and in 2012 she joined Nerdist Industries to produce Just Cos, an Internet show about the world of cosplay, co-hosted by Chloe Dykstra.[23] Le was a member of Kat Gunn's professional gaming and cosplay team, Less Than 3 (LT3), which was also sponsored by Mad Catz.[24] FHM Singapore featured her in the December 2013 issue, including on the cover.[25][26]

She is a particular fan of Psylocke from X-Men,[27][28] of whom she cosplayed in every version of the character,[29] and of Morrigan Aensland from Darkstalkers.[4][28][30][31] In 2013 interviews, Le said she works "almost 15 hour days and sleep about the maximum is around 4 hours", her favourite costume so far was the one of Teresa from Claymore,[12] the most ambitious costume was Morrigan's, and the oddest costume request she has got was "the almost-naked Kasumi from Dead or Alive."[26] She has been to over 200 American fan conventions between 2008 and 2013,[6] when she has decided to "take some time off" later that year.[32] Amped Asia in 2010 called her "probably the #1 most universally attractive Asian girl on the planet due to her geekiness (and sexiness too)."[31] IGN in 2011 opined "her cosplay skill is off the charts."[4] According to Kotaku in 2012, "Linda is a cosplay machine, renowned not just for the quality of her costumes, but their variety as well;"[33] Kotaku has also previously described her as "incredibly attractive" and her works as "amazing".[34] Asked in 2013 as where she sees herself in 20 years from now, Le answered: "Cosplay is great, but I can't be doing it forever ... Hopefully, I'll have my own costume line, come up with toys and do something related to the arts scene."[6]