Linda Le

Biography Early life Born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma to a family of Vietnamese immigrants, where she graduated with a business degree from San Jose State University while doing various odd jobs. She later studied hairstyling from Paul Mitchell's in the U.S., Toni & Guy in London, 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.

Career

Le's early fame came after some of her cosplays were featured in the showcase book Otacool 2 by Japanese toy and collectible company Kotobukiya. 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, Gibson Guitar Corporation, KusoVinyl, Manga Entertainment UK and Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Jessica Chobot, and other artists and companies in the USA and Japan. Le was part of costume and armor prop-making group Team Mantium Designs, and a video gamer sponsored by Mad Catz. and in 2012 she joined Nerdist Industries to produce Just Cos, an Internet show about the world of cosplay, co-hosted by Chloe Dykstra. Le was a member of Kat Gunn's professional gaming and cosplay team, Less Than 3 (LT3), which was also sponsored by Mad Catz. In 2013, FHM Singapore featured Le in the December issue, including on the cover.

Among her popular cosplay performances are Psylocke from X-Men, and Morrigan Aensland from Darkstalkers. IGN in 2011 opined "her cosplay skill is off the charts." Kotaku has also previously described her as "incredibly attractive" and her works as "amazing". 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."