Topping my list is the cute-as-a-button Kipi from Tokyo, Japan. If you’ve seen any website with any type of cosplay imagery, chances are that you’ll recognize her. Kipi’s innocent, puerile features provide the perfect “moé” qualities that melt an otaku’s heart. However, I imagine that most who admire this baby-faced cutie have fallen for her through her more Gothic Lolita styled costumes, giving the more predatory-natured folks a realized image to the hand-drawn sexualized minors for whom they already fawn. Not that I can turn my nose up at them entirely, for even I experience a tingle of guilt whenever I glance Kipi sporting a short skirt and thigh-high socks.

Kipi’s been blessed with a youthful face that suits her for just about any female anime character. Most widespread of her photo shoots include characters such as Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya), Asuka (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Chii (Chobits), and Misa Amane (Death Note). Her uncannily natural portrayal of these characters have earned her the credit of being the official cosplay model for the aforementioned Haruhi Suzumiya as well as winning her the award for Most Beautiful/Cosplay Actress in 2006 by China’s official cosplay association.

Those beautiful doe eyes and infectious smile have earned her a passionate fan following with otaku around the world. Kipi has a handful of dedicated gallery sites across the web, aside from the hundreds of galleries found in general cosplay directories. While most of these are fan-operated, Kipi personally tends to a couple of her own, including a photo blog which she updates regularly with pics from her daily life…though most of them are of food.

While Kipi is guaranteed to pull at your heart strings, there are men like myself who prefer a tougher breed of female character. A woman that you can exchange scar stories with and join in a bar fight before she drags your drunken tail back to her place for some break-sweat rasslin’. The physical embodiment of this visage is none other than Omi Gibson, whose most famous characters in her costume lineup include Revy (Black Lagoon), Meryl (Metal Gear Solid), Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex), and Poison (Final Fight).

While it’s clear from her portfolio that she greatly favors characters from the Metal Gear Solid series, Omi doesn’t seem to allow any imposed limitations prevent her from putting together an incredibly sexy costume design. With her tomboy demeanor, she’s been known to take established male characters and successfully gender-swap them into versions that don’t cause one to question one’s sexual orientation, but rather reaffirm it with gusto. You’ll never find a more alluring portrayal MGS2′s Raiden anywhere. Omi has also broadened her scope beyond the Japanese anime and video game realm, taking on Western pop culture characters as well. She appears to have a taste for obscure, cult cinema; movies like Black Snake Moan, Grindhouse, or The Devil’s Rejects.

Not much is publicly known about the enigmatic Omi Gibson, aside from the copious pages of photo galleries on the web. Alas, she is married (sorry, fellas) to a cosplay kindred spirit, whom often can be found by her side as Solid Snake, accessorizing whichever Kojima-created personae she’s assumed.

While the most notarized cosplay models are predominantly Asian, there is at least one known around the world that satisfies those who prefer the more Caucasian flavor. That model is the Italian internet idol, Francesca Dani. With what started out as a side gig to pay for college, Francesca’s modeling career exploded, generating a fruitful living for herself by making appearances both in public and in print. Francesca is most often featured in Latin-American publications, as well as landing the gig of cover girl for the Japanese company, Bodyline, who produces lines of Gothic and Lolita dresses.

Ethnicity aside, Francesca’s assets include one feature that she triumphs over most of her Asian counterparts: Huge boobs. Francesca’s bountiful bosom allows her to better fill out costumes that are faithful to the source material of the more voluptuous of characters. Most widespread of these characters include Morrigan (Darkstalkers), Kasumi (Dead Or Alive), and Mai Shiranui (Fatal Fury). While the above mentioned Kipi provides a juvenile, jailbait-esque presentation of Death Note‘s Misa Amane, Francesca conversely offers a ripened, womanly rendering of the character.

Though recognized across the web for her cosplay talents, they make up but a fraction of her photographic collection. Francesca’s portfolio contains a variety of crafted attire, both of original costume and fashion design. While she happily offers sample images of selected photo shoots on her homepage, it’s no surprise that she gets away with making her more risqué material exclusively available through a paid membership. Work it while you got it, girl!