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Get to know this Fil-Am streamer who’s making a huge splash in the US gaming scene

Get to know this Fil-Am streamer who’s making a huge splash in the US gaming scene

It is no surprise how content creators have thriven and become increasingly popular despite a global health crisis.

With the current situation rendering us from any type of social interaction, our attention shifted to anything that could potentially fill that void. This eventually led to a breakthrough in the gaming industry, particularly towards game streamers.

Over the past 2 years, platforms such as Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube gaming experienced a massive increase in viewership. This is due to the high demand for mobile and computer games which also exploded during the pandemic.

Offering entertainment and a place for audience involvement, game streams build communities that make quarantine a little less lonely. With its newfound reach and influence, certain streamers have reached tremendous growth, skyrocketing them into instant fame and prominence.

One of them is Rachell Hofstetter, a 30-year-old American streamer who goes by her online alias Valkyrae.

Valkyrae stands out among her colleagues as one of few game streamers of mixed Filipino descent (she’s also half-german) in the United States. A big name in game streaming today, her success story is both empowering and inspiring.

She is the world’s most viewed female streamer

Easily one of today’s most recognizable streamers, it is during the pandemic when Valkyrae’s career started to take off.

Already in her sixth year of streaming, in 2020, Valkyrae shifts from Twitch to YouTube. It is during this time that she began playing one of the biggest games that year, ‘Among Us’.

While she was relatively known way before the game was even released, Among us did help expand her name even further.

Her collaborations with celebrities like Jimmy Fallon, PewDiePie, and US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez helped her grow her audience from thousands to hundreds of thousands. By the end of that year, she emerges as the world’s most popular female streamer.

Streamer
photo grabbed from talkesports.com

She co-owns an esports and apparel company alongside well-known personalities

Valkyrae joined Esports gaming organization and lifestyle brand 100 Thieves on October 27, 2018, making her the company’s first female content creator.

Nearly three years later, on April 7, 2021, she created history when she became one of the organization’s newest co-owners.

As a co-owner, Valkyrae will earn equity in the company estimated to $190 million as revealed by Forbes magazine. This is a significant step forward for women in the gaming industry, as well as for the future of gaming in general, as it expands their prospects.

Besides Valkyrae, some of its six co-owners include 100 thieves founder Matt “Nadeshot” Haag as well as Rapper and Singer Drake and Talent Manager Scooter Braun.

She is a part of Forbes 30 under 30

In her last year of eligibility, Valkyrae made it as one of Forbes 30 under 30 for the year 2022. Described as defying the odds, this list recognizes its honorees for overcoming a global pandemic, supply chain constraints, and isolation to create resilient and world-changing ventures.

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In her Livestream after the announcement, Valkyrae shares that making it into the Forbes has been one of her goals. Despite the controversy, she was involved with prior, as undeserving as she feels, Valkyrae is nevertheless very honored.

Other Filipinas who made it into the list are Singer Olivia Rodrigo and TikTok superstar Bella Poarch.

There are far more reasons as to why she’s incredibly successful but what really matters is her impact. Valkyrae has helped to open new doors for female streamers and emphasize the value of female empowerment by advocating for gender equality in gaming.

Her debut in-game streaming was anything but unexpected. Her interest in video games began at a young age, with her Filipina mother having a significant effect.

With no signs of stopping down, the future is looking absolutely bright for Valkyrae.

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