Cosplayer and influencer Lien Sue has built a thriving career transforming into anime characters, warriors, and mythical creatures but while her passion pays well, she says it’s wreaking havoc on her love life.
The 26-year-old, originally from Cologne, Germany, earns around £55,000 ($70,000) a month through cosplay, erotic modelling, and fan support via Patreon.
She even bought her own £728,000 (€850,000) home to accommodate the massive foam armours and equipment used to create her designs.
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Lien first got into cosplay during university and now has 135,000 Instagram followers (@liiensue), with fans supporting her detailed, often revealing creations.
Her costumes can take up to 400 hours to make and cost between £80 and £400 per piece. While many admire her success, she says her dating life has suffered.
“There are always guys judging me before they get to know me,” she said, adding that her erotic content seems to scare men off. “Some men don’t like confident women who show themselves off they’re probably intimidated by how much I earn.”
Despite being financially independent, Lien says she still enjoys being treated with affection and thoughtfulness. “Even though I make a good living, I still like being spoiled,” she added.
She’s open about her single status and says she’s looking for someone who’s kind, funny, self-assured, and lives a healthy lifestyle non-smokers only.
A great sense of humour is essential. “I fall for the character first, then the looks,” she said, revealing her anime crush is Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen.
Although her modelling success has made it harder to connect with people romantically, she hasn’t given up.
She prefers forming friendships first, either through shared interests like gaming or anime, and says past partners have sometimes asked her to cosplay in the bedroom something she’s happy to do if she’s into it. “It’s exciting to do special role play,” she said, adding that it’s fun to become someone’s fantasy.
When not online, Lien earns extra by attending conventions, where she sells photos, prints, props, and calendars.
At one event, she made £12,000 in just three days. She hopes to attend international conventions like Comic Con in the US soon. “I’ve never been to the US, so it would be a great experience,” she said.
Cosplay has brought her financial independence, creative freedom, and a loyal fanbase even if it’s complicated her search for love. For now, she’s focused on building her brand and enjoying the wild ride her once-hobby has become.
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