Rachell Marie Hofstetter, better known as Valkyrae, is a famous YouTube star and live streamer. Born on January 8, 1992, in Washington, Valkyrae has gained immense popularity for her gameplay videos of Among Us, Minecraft, and Fortnite.
With over 4 million subscribers on her Valkyrae YouTube channel, she has become one of the leading female figures in the gaming community.
Early Life and Education
Valkyrae grew up in Washington and later moved to Los Angeles, California. She is of Filipino and German descent and has a sister named KC.
Encouraged by her mother, Valkyrae developed an early interest in video games. She worked at GameStop for a year and a half to support herself while attending community college. She later graduated with an associate degree in arts and science.
Career
Valkyrae began her career by sharing her gaming hobby on Instagram, which led her to start live streaming on Twitch in 2015.
Her breakthrough came in 2018 while playing the competitive online game Fortnite. She joined 100 Thieves as their first female content creator that same year.
In 2020, she switched to an exclusive streaming contract with YouTube, where her channel saw significant growth, particularly with her gameplay of Among Us. Her collaborations with popular streamers and public figures contributed to her popularity.
In 2020, Valkyrae was recognized as the fastest-growing live streamer and won the Game Awards’ Content Creator of the Year award. She also received the Streamy Award for Livestreamer of the Year in 2021.
As a co-owner of 100 Thieves, she has played a crucial role in the company’s success, which Forbes valued at $190 million.
In October 2021, Valkyrae launched her skincare brand, RFLCT, which aims to protect skin from blue light damage. However, the brand faced backlash due to insufficient scientific evidence supporting its claims.
Valkyrae addressed the criticism, expressing her disappointment with the brand’s research team’s lack of transparency. Eventually, RFLCT ceased operations, and Valkyrae moved on from the venture.
Valkyrae has actively participated in various charitable events and live streams. She has raised funds for Feeding America, The Trevor Project, No Kid Hungry, World Central Kitchen, and the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. Her philanthropic efforts have significantly impacted various causes and communities.
Personal Life
From 2016 to 2021, Valkyrae was in a relationship with fellow streamer Michael “Sonii” Sherman. She currently resides in Los Angeles with fellow streamers Leslie “Fuslie” Fu, Miyoung “Kkatamina” Kim, and Christina “TinaKitten” Kenyan.
I’m a passionate content writer with over five years of experience. My hobbies include binge-watching horror movies, reading novels, learning from YouTube, and exploring new places.