Lela Lee is the creator of the beloved Angry Little Girls comic series. What began as a student project has grown into a playful, relatable, and impactful work that continues to spark joy and connection with readers. Through her colorful characters and witty storytelling, Lela reminds us of the power of humor and creativity to bring people together.
What First Drew Her to Comics
"My video of Angry Little Asian Girl was getting a lot of buzz. People kept calling my video a comic strip. ALAG was not a comic strip when it started, but people thought it was. So I taught myself with books from the library, studying other cartoonists, and practicing."
The Birth and Evolution of Angry Little Girls
"Angry Little Asian Girl got rejected A LOT. One such rejection was when a studio executive asked me to ‘take the Asian girl out.’ His reasoning was that there was no market for Asians. But I believed there were more people like me.
I was interacting with them on my website, where I self-published my comics. But I wanted books traditionally published, so I changed the name to Angry Little Girls and drew other girls from different backgrounds. The name change worked—Angry Little Girls was published in 2005 and became a series of books."
Favorite Corner of Your Space
"I like my drafting table and my shelves that display products from over the years. The historical items make me feel proud that I was able to make products back when there wasn’t much for us POCs."
Daily Habits to Stay Focused
"I keep some writing instrument on me. If I don’t have my pen and a small spiral notebook, I will send myself an email or text. I jot ideas down as soon as they hit."
Evolving Personal Style
"With age, comes more arch support for my feet! I am so happy that Birkenstocks are cool again. When I was a budget-conscious college student at Berkeley, I could only afford a pair of fake ones that I called my ‘Birkenstorks.’
But now I buy real because when my art was infringed, I felt how terrible it is to have copycats exploit your craft. So now I buy real everything. I'm excited about my silver Birkenstocks with iridescent oil slick finish buckles."
A Memorable Connection
"Every year for many years, a very sweet woman visited me at San Diego Comic Con. One year, she didn’t come. The following year, she came to see me in a wheelchair because she was weak from battling cancer.
She shared that while she was in the hospital, she read my book over and over because it helped her with her anger. It floored me that my art helped her during such a challenging time.
After she left, I wondered how my cute little drawings could elicit comfort for her. I thought back about the time surrounding the creation of my first book. I had so many obstacles getting that first book out into the world, much of it psychological anguish from dealing with a life of suppressed anger.
On an energetic level, I believe the book and my art connected to her because we shared the experience of obediently suppressing ourselves for everyone else’s benefit."
Advice for Emerging Artists
"Follow your inner compass. Don’t draw for the ‘market.’ I didn’t draw what everyone else was making. And I didn’t take out the Asian girl because some executive who had more experience and a fancier job told me to.
Feedback is good to hear, but don’t let people talk you out of your hunches. Always check in with your inner self. Listen to yourself."
What Fuels Her Creativity
"I like the process of my ‘day job.’ I like waiting for the spark, or getting the spark and then capturing it in a note and working on it until it works. Being creative can be messy and it can take a long time, but the process from beginning to end is super satisfying to complete.
When that’s done, I like that the slate is blank and I get to do it again."
Lela is wearing our Lili Ginger as custom specs.
Join us for her “How to Draw Comics” Workshop on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Covry Costa Mesa. Spots are limited — save your spot today here.
