Short answers, pulled from the story.
Capcom's Brazilian branch requested a new character for Street Fighter V in 2015 and Director Takayuki Nakayama received the assignment to create her. Series producer Yoshinori Ono had visited Rio de Janeiro at the Brazil Game Show in 2011 and wanted a beautiful woman with capoeira-inspired movements.
Laura debuted officially at the Brasil Game Show on the 8th of October 2015 four months prior to the game's release. She appeared in the story mode A Shadow Falls joining heroes who attempt to stop the criminal organization Shadaloo.
Her grandfather trained her in the art of Jiu-Jitsu before she entered tournaments and she comes from a family with strong ties to both traditional Japanese martial arts and Brazilian Capoeira. In gameplay scenarios she combines these styles to create unique combat patterns against enemies while using electricity-based attacks as projectiles.
Critics argued the character design was too sexualized particularly accusing it of pandering to the male gaze. The Brazilian Society for Interdisciplinary Studies of Communication observed her image and body were hypersexualized and objectified for player contemplation.
Laura stands 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) tall wearing a green sleeveless jacket tied up beneath her breasts. Her hairstyle is long and flowing on the right side while the left is styled into cornrow braids.