Ying Wang is a doctoral student at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, where her research focuses on the intersections of fandom, gender, and cultural dynamics. With over a decade of immersive engagement in the cosplay fandom, she enjoys working with tailors, makeup artists, and fellow cosplayers, as well as telling their stories. In her work, she attempts to analyze how cosplay influences cultural economies, bridges the gap between virtual and physical realities, and serves as a medium for cultural expression. Her academic scope also includes video games, pop music, comic conventions, and science fictions, where she employs mixed methods to contextualize Chinese popular culture within academic discourse.

Wang holds a Master's degree in Journalism and Communication and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Before joining Annenberg, she presented her research at prestigious conferences, including the International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference, Fan Studies Network North America Conference (FSNNA), and Disney, Culture and Society Research Network Annual Conference. Her paper on Chinese female literature and cultural disaster earned the Top Student Paper Award in the Feminist Scholarship Division at the 74th ICA Annual Conference. She also has professional experience in art museums and e-commerce companies, which enriches her analytical framework, fostering critical insights into labor and cultural production.