Valkyrae

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This article is about the live streamer. For the Norse mythological figure, see Valkyrie.

Valkyrae
Valkyrae for 100 Thieves (cropped).jpg
Valkyrae in 2019
Personal information
BornRachell Hofstetter
(1992-01-08) January 8, 1992 (age 29)
Washington, U.S.
Occupation
YouTube information
Channel
GenreGaming
Subscribers3.57 million[1]
Total views205 million[1]
Associated acts
YouTube Silver Play Button 2.svg 100,000 subscribers 2018
YouTube Gold Play Button 2.svg 1,000,000 subscribers 2020
Updated: October 28, 2021

Rachell "Rae" Hofstetter[2][3] (born January 8, 1992),[4] better known by her online alias Valkyrae, is an American internet personality. Dubbed the "Queen of YouTube", she has been the platform's most-watched female streamer since 2020.[3] She was named "Gaming Creator of the Year" by Adweek, and has received a Game Award.

Hofstetter is a co-owner of 100 Thieves, an esports and an apparel company, and has been a content creator for the brand since 2018. Hofstetter is an advocate for women in online gaming, sometimes playing games on all-female teams.[5]

Career[]

Early work and recognition (2014–2020)[]

After graduating from community college, Hofstetter worked various jobs, including a job at GameStop.[3] In 2014, while working she began sharing her gaming hobby on Instagram, gaining a significant following. She was encouraged by various Instagram followers, friends, and Twitch streamers to start streaming on Twitch, beginning in 2015.[6] After gathering a following, Hofstetter began posting gaming videos on YouTube.[5]

In 2018, she became the first female gamer and content creator for 100 Thieves,[7] a competitive American esports team. On January 13, 2020, Hofstetter left Twitch for an exclusive streaming contract on YouTube.[8] While initially struggling to maintain an average viewer count of 5,000 towards the beginning of 2020, her YouTube channel experienced a significant boost when she started playing the online multiplayer social deduction game Among Us and began collaborating with popular streamers including Disguised Toast, Sykkuno, Pokimane, Jacksepticeye, Cr1TiKaL, Corpse Husband, xChocoBars, and Fuslie.

Hofsetter became the fastest growing female streamer of the year and surpassed Pokimane as the most-viewed female streamer of 2020.[9] Towards the end of 2020, Hofstetter's stream regularly peaked at concurrent viewer counts exceeding 100,000, typically during Among Us sessions.[9]

Breakthrough and expansion (2021–present)[]

On April 7, 2021, Hofstetter was announced as a co-owner of 100 Thieves alongside fellow 100 Thieves content creator CouRageJD.[3][10] They join Scooter Braun, Dan Gilbert, the rapper Drake, and founder Matthew 'Nadeshot' Haag. As co-owners, Valkyrae and CouRage will receive equity in the company, which Forbes magazine recently valued at $190 million.[3] In March 2021, Hofstetter and content creator Natsumiii released a cover version of the song "Last Cup of Coffee" by LilyPichu.[11] Later that month, she portrayed Corpse Husband in the music video for the song "Daywalker!" by Machine Gun Kelly featuring Corpse Husband.[12] Hofstetter additionally made cameo appearances in music videos for Bella Poarch's songs "Build a Bitch" and "Inferno" later that year.[13][14]

Hofstetter, alongside Sykkuno and Corpse Husband, participated in a fundraiser for Feeding America hosted by Jimmy Fallon as a part of a segment for The Tonight Show in April. The segment included them playing Among Us with members of the American hip hop band The Roots, Tariq Trotter, Kirk Douglas, and Questlove, as well as cast members of the critically acclaimed American TV series Stranger Things, Gaten Matarazzo and Noah Schnapp.[15][16]

On October 19, 2021, Hofstetter announced the launch of her skincare brand RFLCT. The brand, primarily geared towards gamers and those who put in heavy screen time, claimed that users are susceptible to skin damage caused by prolonged exposure to blue light, and that their products protect against it. RFLCT received backlash due to the insufficient evidence supporting the claim;[17][18] according to Kathleen Suozzi, the director of the aesthetic dermatology program at Yale University, unless someone was already prone to melasma or hyperpigmentation, they were unlikely to suffer any consequence from sitting in front of a screen for long periods of time.[19]

Hofsetter addressed RFLCT's criticisms in October of 2021, stating that "all of the hate, doubt, concerns, and criticisms are all warranted and valid" and that she was "very upset and confused" with the website, stating that there will be updates made with legitimate research to support the claims that blue light is harmful to skin.[19][20] She later revealed that she had previously been given access to research conducted by RFLCT supporting the products and that the research would be publicly available at product launch, however she was informed post-launch that the research could not be released to the public.[21] Hofstetter then expressed a desire to part ways with RFLCT, but was contractually bound.[22] On October 30, 2021, RFLCT ceased operation of its website and online store. A statement on the website read "While we believe in the formulations created, after further reflection, have decided to move forward on new paths, effectively terminating the RFLCT brand."[23][24]

Personal life[]

Hofstetter is of part Filipino and German descent and was raised in Washington. Her father died of cancer in 2017. She has one younger sister. She graduated with an Associate in Arts from a community college in Washington.[3]

Discography[]

Singles[]

As a featured artist[]

Year Track Details Ref
2021 "Last Cup of Coffee" (with Natsumiii feat. LilyPichu)
  • YouTube Release Date: March 15, 2021
 [25]

Filmography[]

Television[]

Year Title Role Network Notes Ref.
2021 Mr. Osomatsu herself TV Tokyo cameo in season 3, episode 17 [26]

Music videos[]

Year Title Artist(s) Role Ref.
2021 "DayWalker" Machine Gun Kelly (featuring Corpse Husband) Corpse Husband [12]
"Build a Bitch" Bella Poarch Herself [13]
"Inferno" Sub Urban and Bella Poarch [14]

Competitions[]

Year Event Note Ref.
2018
 Fortnite Pro-Am Teamed up with celebrity music producer Murda Beatz. [27]
2019
 Australian Open Fortnite Summer Smash [28]
Fortnite Celebrity Pro-Am Teamed up with Los Angeles Chargers player Justin Jones [29]

Accolades[]

Awards, recognitions and nominations received by Valkyrae.

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2019 11th Annual Shorty Awards Best in Gaming Nominated [30]
2020 The Game Awards Content Creator of the Year Won [31]
2021 Adweek Creator Visionary Awards Gaming Creator of the Year Won [32]
11th Streamy Awards Livestreamer Won [33]
2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 Games Included [34][35]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "About Valkyrae". YouTube.
  2. ^ @Valkyrae (September 13, 2020). "Rachel - my real name Rae - the nickname I got everybody to call me since I put it in my usernameRachell - read…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Hawgood, Alex (April 7, 2021). "Valkyrae Gets a Big Chair in the Gaming World". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Bhatti, Fariha (January 8, 2021). "Valkyrae surprised with a birthday party on Rust server". WIN.gg. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Fagan, Kaylee (June 11, 2018). "This 26-year-old Fortnite streamer says she paid off her mom's debt with her Twitch earnings". Business Insider. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  6. ^ Valkyrae (March 8, 2021). "LIVE! Valorant then bloons then Uno THEN Bloons!". YouTube. Event occurs at 5:13:13.
  7. ^ "From the 11th Annual Shorty Awards: Valkyrae". Shorty Awards. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  8. ^ Zelauskas, Amanda (January 13, 2020). "Valkyrae signs exclusive streaming deal with YouTube". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Banerjee, Sonu (January 14, 2021). "Valkyrae Surpasses Pokimane As The Most Viewed Female Streamer Of 2020". TalkEsport. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Knoop, Joseph (April 7, 2021). "Streamer Valkyrae Becomes Co-Owner of 100 Thieves Esports Alongside CouRage - IGN". IGN. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  11. ^ @Natsumiii (March 14, 2021). "It's finally out!! our cute little cover @LilyPichu @Valkyrae ❤️☕️ #CupOfCoffeeValkyrae x…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ a b Appleford, Danny (March 18, 2021). "Valkyrae stars in Machine Gun Kelly's DAYWALKER music video". Daily Esports. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Haylock, Zoe (May 14, 2021). "And Now, TikTok Star Bella Poarch Steps Into the Pop-Girl Ring". Vulture. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Haylock, Zoe (August 13, 2021). "Bella Poarch Welcomes You to Her Tower of Terror in the 'Inferno' Video". Vulture. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  15. ^ Peters, Jay (April 6, 2021). "Jimmy Fallon played Among Us with streamers and the cast of Stranger Things in Twitch debut". The Verge. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  16. ^ "Jimmy Plays Among Us with Gaten Matarazzo, Valkyrae, Sykkuno, Corpse Husband & More". YouTube. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  17. ^ Nightingale, Ed (October 20, 2021). "Streamer Valkyrae faces backlash for new gamer skincare range". Eurogamer. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  18. ^ Polhamus, Blaine (October 19, 2021). "Valkyrae's new skincare line sparks controversy". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Grayson, Nathan (October 22, 2021). "YouTube streaming star Valkyrae launches skin care line to controversy, ethical questions". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  20. ^ Alford, Aaron (October 21, 2021). "Valkyrae finally breaks her silence over RFLCT blue light controversy". InvenGlobal. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  21. ^ Alford, Aaron (October 23, 2021). ""The research isn't fake:" Valkyrae stands by RFLCT blue-light product amid controversy". InvenGlobal. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  22. ^ Katuwal, Arun (October 24, 2021). "Valkyrae Feels Trapped in RFLCT Contract — Drama Explained". HollywoodMask. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  23. ^ Bolding, Jonathan (October 30, 2021). "That controversial gamer skincare line is no more". PC Gamer.
  24. ^ Polhamus, Blaine (October 30, 2021). "Valkyrae's skincare line, RFLCT, is no longer available". Dot Esports.
  25. ^ https://twitter.com/valkyrae/status/1371014301134188546 The Premiere for our song is live! Drops today at 2pm PST!]. Retrieved on 2021-03-14.
  26. ^ Valkyrae & Corpse Husband react to surprise anime ‘cameo’ with Sykkuno & Toast. dexerto.com. Published on 2021-02-03. Retrieved on 2021-11-20.
  27. ^ Goslin, Austen (June 1, 2018). "Here's everyone playing in Epic's major Fortnite E3 tournament". Polygon. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  28. ^ Miceli, Max (January 16, 2020). "Fortnite Summer Smash headlined by numerous World Cup competitors". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  29. ^ Goslin, Austen (May 15, 2019). "Here are all the players for the 2019 Fortnite celebrity Pro-Am". Polygon. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  30. ^ "The Shorty Awards". Shorty Awards. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  31. ^ "Content Creator of the Year | Nominees | The Game Awards". Content Creator of the Year | Nominees | The Game Awards. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  32. ^ "27 Innovators Who Are Unlocking the Creative Potential of Social Media". Adweek. May 2, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  33. ^ Strause, Jackie (December 12, 2021). "Streamy Awards: MrBeast Wins 2021 Creator of the Year". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  34. ^ Hegde, Vibha (December 1, 2021). ""I'm honored": 100T co-owner Valkyrae reacts with pride as she makes Forbes' 30 under 30 list". Sportskeeda. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  35. ^ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2022: Games". Forbes. Retrieved December 2, 2021.

External links[]

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