Vampy Bit Me is coming to Auckgeddon
Linda Le is an American cosplayer, costumer, model, artist and internet personality of Vietnamese descent. She is also known as Vampy Bit Me, Vampy or Vamp. Vampy is also a name she has given to her own fictional character persona. Her 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, Myx TV, Manga Entertainment UK and Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Jessica Chobot and other artists and companies in the USA and Japan. Le is a part of costume and armour prop-making group Team Mantium Designs, later renamed Mantium Industries, and a video gamer sponsored by Mad Catz. Le has been writing a column for YouBentMyWookie, 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. FHM Singapore featured her in the December 2013 issue, including on the cover. She is a particular fan of Psylocke from X-Men, who she cosplayed in every version of the character, and of Morrigan Aensland from Darkstalkers. 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, the most ambitious costume was Morrigan’s and the oddest costume request she has got was “the almost-naked Kasumi from Dead or Alive.” She has been to over 200 American fan conventions between 2008 and 2013, when she decided to “take some time off” later that year. IGN in 2011 opined “her cosplay skill is off the charts”. According to Kotaku in 2012, “Linda is a cosplay machine, renowned not just for the quality of her costumes but their variety as well.” Asked in 2013 about 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.” Linda Le was named one of the top 10 most popular cosplayers in 2014.
Vampy Bit Me appears work and health commitments pending.
