Filipino American streamer Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter never expected her career to take off as it did.
She started streaming video games on Twitch in 2015 to battle loneliness and possibly make a few friends. Due to her bubbly personality, she amassed millions of followers on multiple platforms, which led to sponsorships and brand endorsements. In 2018, she became the first female streamer to join the gaming and lifestyle organization 100 Thieves, eventually becoming a co-owner in 2020. She won content creator of the year at the Game Awards that same year. Her winning streak didn’t stop there. In 2021, she won gaming creator of the year from the Adweek Creator Visionary Awards and the livestreamer award from the YouTube Streamy Awards. In 2022, she earned a place on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Games list and received the Sapphire Award at this year’s Streamer Awards. Now, she can add Gold House A1 Honoree in Sports and Gaming to her long list of accolades.
“I’m shocked, honestly,” says Hofstetter. “There are so many incredible [Asians] out there […] But I keep hearing that I need to be more aware of my accomplishments, so I’m just going to say — I’m very happy and honored.”
For the gamer, her Asian identity has been something she’s been grappling with for most of her life. Growing up in a biracial household in a small town in Washington, her Filipino mother dissuaded her from learning Tagalog and their traditions, hoping her daughter would assimilate better in America. However, she regrets not pushing her mother to learn the language and culture. “I struggled a lot [with my identity], but over time, I learned [there are many Asians] who are mixed like me […] that don’t speak Tagalog. I’m not alone. [Many of us] are probably struggling the same struggles.”
Hofstetter feels “grateful” and “very proud” that a platform like Gold House recognizes her achievements within the community. She reflects on her immigrant mother’s difficult journey in America and the sacrifices that were made for her. While her mother had tucked away her heritage, Hofstetter is now being honored for it.
“[This honor] is so important to me be- cause I want to [make my mother] proud,” she says. “I feel indebted to her. I also want to [keep inspiring people] like me — Filipino mixed babies — to create a community wherever you go. You just gotta find it.”
Though Hofstetter is renowned in the gaming industry, she is staking her claim in the entertainment world. After numerous cameo appearances in music videos and providing voices for the anime “Tribe 9” and Netflix’s animated series “Sonic Prime,” she made her acting debut in last year’s AppleTV+ film “The Family Plan” playing herself, a competitive gamer in a championship battle. “It felt like the perfect first role because they literally wanted me to be Valkyrae,” she laughs. “I wore my clothes. I didn’t even have to act like anyone new. It was just literally me.”
She has caught the acting bug and plans to do more. She recently filmed a Crocs commercial and has another feature film cameo lined up for next year.
Hofstetter admits she has “her foot in many different doors.” She expects to do more streams and collaborations, and also dive into new territory, including animation. “There is a specific realm in animation [that I’ve been interested in]. I’ve [always] been fascinated with animation. I want to dabble in that field and see where that takes me. Maybe open up a company,” she says.
