Female Streamer 'Valkyrae' Explains How She Handles Online Misogyny and Harassment (Exclusive)
Female Streamer 'Valkyrae' Explains How She Handles Online Misogyny and Harassment (Exclusive)
Tereza ShkurtajSun, March 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM UTC
0
Rachell 'Valkyrae' HofstetterCredit: Yu Tsai -
Rachell "Valkyrae" Hofstetter has risen to the top of the streaming world while confronting the misogyny that still shadows women in gaming
Rather than retreat, she’s chosen transparency and resilience — using both her successes and failures as lessons for the millions watching
Through it all, she remains committed to proving that women can take up space online without compromising who they are
With more than 4 million subscribers on YouTube — 40% of whom are women — Valkyrae has built a career in an industry that hasn’t always welcomed women with open arms.
Born Rachell Hofstetter, the Filipino-American creator began streaming on Twitch in 2015, turning a lifelong love of gaming into a global platform. Over the past decade, she has evolved from competitive gamer to executive, actor and media entrepreneur, all while navigating the relentless scrutiny that comes with being a woman online. Nevertheless, her mission has remained simple: to show up as her most authentic self.
“I just like that I'm encouraging people to just do what they love and do what makes them happy,” Valkyrae, 34, tells PEOPLE.
Valkyrae.Credit: Yu Tsai
Being a woman in gaming, Valkyrae says, has meant enduring a steady undercurrent of misogyny. From comments insisting she “doesn’t belong” and constantly being told to “get back in the kitchen,” the hostility has never fully disappeared despite her fame.
What has changed is her response. Gaming, she explains, is no different than any other form of entertainment, whether it be interactive storytelling, digital media or other art. Refusing to internalize the noise became a turning point for her.
“I feel like if I would have listened to these people that I don't know; that yell at me and say I shouldn't be doing something… I wouldn't be where I am today,” Valkyrae emphasizes. “I wouldn't have the success that I have if I listened to these people.”
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Valkyrae.Credit: Valkyrae/Youtube
Now one of the most-streamed female gamers in the world, Valkyrae’s influence extends far beyond gameplay. In 2018, she became the first woman to join 100 Thieves and later became a co-owner. In 2022, she landed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and has since launched Hihi Studios, developing anime-inspired IP across graphic novels, television and film. Valkyrae also hosts her own podcast and YouTube series called Touching Grass. On screen, she’s appeared in music videos, voiced characters in Tribe Nine and Sonic Prime, and made her acting debut in The Family Plan.
Unfortunately, accolades don’t insulate her from danger. During a March 2025 livestream in Santa Monica, Calif., a man who had been following Valkyrae and two fellow creators after being rejected by one of her friends ultimately lunged toward them and yelled a death threat before security intervened. The incident, streamed in real time, was a stark reminder of how quickly online hostility can spill into real life.
Advertisement
“No means no, you’re not entitled to anybody,” Valkyrae later wrote on X. “The fact that this man threatened our lives after being rejected while we were in a group, in public and live on stream just shows the harsh reality women live in. This happens off camera to women all the time.”
Valkyrae.Credit: Valkyrae/Instagram
Processing that kind of harassment requires boundaries. Over time, Valkyrae says she has learned to lean on friends who understand the pressures of internet fame. “It's nice having friends and family I can talk to and a supportive community,” she says.
Still, Valkyrae has also become more cautious about what she shares publicly, noting how easily clips can be taken “out of context” on engagement-driven platforms. “Nowadays, the harassment seems to be getting worse because, like, on the [X] app, you can get paid for engagement,” she explains. “So because people are making money, they will clip things and frame things in a negative way.”
The result is a more guarded version of herself online. “I don't open up as much online anymore,” Valkyrae admits. Instead, she advises her audience to “be careful what you say because people can twist things, people can use it against you.”
Valkyrae.Credit: Yu Tsai
Ironically, though, it’s Valkyrae’s authenticity that has drawn so many women to her channel. She talks candidly about everything from grief – including losing her father to cancer – to everyday realities some creators avoid discussing.
“I think people just want to feel like they belong and that they're not alone,” she explains. “I think women find that in me, which I really love.” Many of her female viewers, she believes, also see her as an “older sister” and Valkyrae admits that the sense of responsibility does weigh on her.
“I do feel responsible,” she says. Valkyrae recognizes people are watching, especially young women and her own family. While streaming, she's often candid about missteps and failed ventures, hoping transparency helps others avoid similar pitfalls. “I want to set a good example,” she emphasizes. “I just try to learn from my own mistakes and hope that others learn from my mistakes as well.”
For aspiring streamers, particularly women, her advice is practical and hard-earned: diversify your content, collaborate, stay consistent and don’t fear setbacks. “I truly do think there's an audience for everyone,” Valkyrae tells PEOPLE — loud or soft-spoken, on-camera or off.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
