Taiwanese Cosplayer and Politician Lai Pin-yu (賴品妤) Wins Election

Lai Pin-yu (賴品妤), a Taiwanese cosplayer and politician representing the Democratic Progressive Party, won a legislative seat in New Taipei City’s 12th electoral district. She made headlines when she cosplayed as Asuka Langley Soryu from Neon Genesis Evangelion during her campaign last December.

Lai defeated former Taipei City Deputy Mayor Lee Yong-ping by 2,780 votes. On election day, she received 84,393 votes in her favor, compared to 81,613 for Lee.

According to Taiwan News, Lai wrote the following statement on her Facebook’s cosplayer page: “Hello friends, I am Lai Pinyu, lawmaker of New Taipei City’s 12th District. Please give me your feedback over the next four years.” In the post, she appears cosplaying as Sailor Mars. Since the evening of January 11, the day she won, her post and photo have received close to 40K likes and other positive reactions.

Lai is not stranger to politics and law. She graduated from National Taipei University with a bachelor’s degree in law in 2013, and has worked as a legislative assistant for Freddy Lin.

[Sources]: NicheGamer: Cosplaying Taiwanese Politician Lai Pin-Yu Wins Election. Taiwan News: Taiwanese cosplay candidate, Sunflower Movement activist wins legislative seat.