About
Yaya Han is a Chinese-American costume designer, author, and one of the most recognizable faces in global cosplay. Active since 1999, she has built more than 450 elaborate outfits spanning anime, comics, gaming, and her own original ideas. Her spark for performance, a gift for vivid fabric work, and a business mindset turned a hobby into a full-time career. Along the way, she has judged contests on every continent, starred on Syfy’s reality series “Heroes of Cosplay,” appeared on TBS’s “King of the Nerds,” and launched licensed products that range from a signature sewing machine to books and embroidery patterns. In 2025, her popular line of stretch and specialty textiles shifted from JOANN to new homes at Mood Fabrics and Linda’s, keeping cosplay supplies accessible even after a major retailer exited the market.
Before Fame
Born on April 10, 1980, in Xi’an, China, Yaya spent part of her childhood in Germany before settling in the United States as a teenager. An early love of manga and animation helped her feel at home in a new country, so when she attended Anime Expo in 1999, she decided to dress as a favorite manga character. Sewing on a second-hand $40 machine and guided only by a thrift-store manual, she pieced together that first costume and stepped into a fandom that was still in its infancy. The experience lit a creative fire: within two years, she was winning craft awards at conventions and taking commissions in the evenings while working standard day jobs to pay for fabric. Those early hustle years forged both her construction skills and her community ties.
Trivia
- DIY Origins: Yaya is entirely self-taught. She keeps the first costume label—hand-written in marker—as a reminder of humble beginnings.
- Record of Creations: Her personal archive lists well over 450 costumes, each photographed and annotated for materials and hours spent.
- On-Camera Presence: In addition to crafting, she served as a main cast member on Syfy’s Heroes of Cosplay and frequents pop-culture podcasts to talk about entrepreneurship in fandom.
- Author: Her 2020 book, Yaya Han’s World of Cosplay, blends memoir with step-by-step tutorials and reflections on fandom culture.
- Height: She stands 5 ft 1 in (155 cm), proof that stature is no barrier to powerhouse stage presence.
Family Life
Yaya prefers to keep relatives out of the spotlight, but she often credits her mother—and, during her German years, her stepfather—for encouraging artistic outlets. Today, she makes her home in the Atlanta area with photographer and prop builder Brian Boling, her husband and long-time creative collaborator. Brian assists with engineering large accessories and shoots many of the portfolio images that circulate online. Together, they share their household with a pair of rescue cats who occasionally wander into livestreams while she sews.
Associated With
Throughout her quarter-century career, Yaya has shared convention stages and workshop tables with a who’s who of pop-culture creators. She has co-judged masquerades alongside builders like Jessica Nigri and Kamui Cosplay, traded craftsmanship tips with Monika Lee and Riki LeCotey from Heroes of Cosplay, and partnered with Mood Fabrics designers to develop shimmering scales, faux leathers, and holographic knits tailored to costume needs. Her collaborative spirit extends to mentoring newer artists through panels and social media AMAs, proving that success in cosplay grows brighter when creatives encourage one another.
