Lina Pao was born into a
poor Cambodian family. First her parents divorced, and then her father died. Because of her difficult life circumstances, eleven-year-old Lina came to live and study at Cambodian Christian Arts Ministry School in Phnom Penh. Lina excelled in academic studies and in all five art forms (music, dance, drama, visual art, and creative writing). In 2005, she played the leading role in the musical "Annie" presented by CCAMS at Chenla Theatre. In 2006, she played the part of Ms. Hannigan in "Annie," graduated from CCAMS with the "Arts in Ministry" degree, and toured Europe with the CCAMS Performing Team. When she wrote and illustrated the story of "Miknia's Doll," she described how she wished her early life had been, had she and her family been Christians.
