Singapore celebrates its 48th birthday on Aug 9, and to tie in with this,The Straits Times Photo Desk has put together 48 Singaporean Seconds, an audio-visual tribute to Singaporeans who have made this little red dot their home.

We are releasing their stories and videos in the next few weeks. In the 10th instalment of our series, we talk to Sueanne Teo.

Sueanne Teo, 24, gamer and cosplay enthusiast

As a hardcore gamer, Ms Sueanne Teo can sometimes spend up to 10 hours a day zapping baddies in the virtual world.

The freelance video editor also likes to get into character.

As an active member of a cosplay group, she often dresses up as a futuristic soldier from the wildly popular video game Halo. She also attends comics and video-game conferences.

No wonder her two younger brothers think she's the coolest and most unconventional big sister ever.

"They think it's awesome that I play video games - it's one of those things that bind us," she says.

Cosplay is an extension of her love for gaming "and a way of expressing our fandom", says the communications and media management graduate from Temasek Polytechnic.

She orders her kits from the United States and meticulously modifies them to fit her slender frame.

But do not mistake her for a tomboy.

"I do plenty of girlish stuff as well," she says, adding that she's also into dance and burlesque.

- Photos and videos by The Straits Times Picture Desk