Valkyrae Interview

It comes as no surprise when Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter answers our call from behind an undeniably impressive screen setup. For the 15 million who follow her online, this is exactly where she belongs: headset on and camera rolling. What’s more unexpected, and equally endearing, is that, despite being named the fastest growing streamer in the world (24 million hours of her content was watched in 2020 alone), Rachell admits to still feeling nervous every time she hits record.

The timing of Rachell’s career feels important, but this is by no means a dismissal based on luck. Before brand deals and business plans became commonplace, her intentions were personal—driven by a true love of gaming combined with a desire for escapism. But if authenticity built her audience, adaptability sustained it. What was once niche quickly became mainstream, and Valkyrae [“Rae”] grew in parallel.

If titles and awards were collectors’ items, Rae would be struggling for space on the mantlepiece. Somewhere along the way, streaming turned into multiple businesses, yet despite her expansive career, what strikes me is her humility. In what feels more like a catch-up with an old friend, she reminisces about her achievements with a kind of disbelief. “I feel like I won the lottery,” she tells me, before adding, “I’m just really grateful all the time.”

BEX WHITLEY: At what point did you realise that this was more than a hobby, but something that was shaping your life?

VALKYRAE: I'd been gaming my whole life, and then one day I started a gaming Instagram account for fun. Then I learnt about streaming on Twitch, literally as a hobby; I didn't even know that you could do it for a living. It was mostly just to hang out with friends and people who also liked games. I was very lonely at the time. I worked at a bank, at GameStop and at a year-round car wash. I’d just got my transfer degree at a community college, and I was making really good money. So I saved up a lot, and I took the risk.

BEX: Well, it looks like it's paid off. That’s such a formative stage of your life. How do you reckon that’s affected who you’ve become?

RAE: When kids play games, it’s often for fun or with friends, but for me, it was a form of escape. My dad would come home drunk every single day, my mum would lock my sisters and me in my room, and they would watch me play games while my dad was yelling in the background.

I had other hobbies too – I used to play the piano, tennis, snowboarding, and bowling – but gaming has been consistent throughout my life. When it became my career, I had to learn to balance work, play and being healthy. No one really knows the long-term effects of playing games every day. I guess I’ll find out when I’m 60.

BEX: A lot of parents can be very “anti-screen time”. I guess that wasn’t the case for yours?

RAE: It wasn’t necessarily that they wanted me to play as much as I did; I got away with it because it was a broken household. Growing up, I learned that my parents tended to apologise by spoiling us. I was a tomboy, and all I wanted was games, so I’d ask to play something new and they would get it out of guilt.

BEX: Gaming is often viewed as isolating, yet your experience has been completely the opposite. 15 million followers is a pretty big community of people.

RAE: It’s mind-blowing. I didn’t expect that my best friends would be people I’ve met through the internet. It really feels like it’s opened up this connection you can have with people all over the world. I grew up in a small town called Moses Lake, Washington. I remember my ex knew I had a gaming account and told me not to do it because it was embarrassing. I’ve always held onto that. I was like, “People on the other side of the world think it’s cool, and I like it”. So I just stuck with what I liked.

BEX: Let’s hope he reads this now. Was it hard to get over that judgment from others? 

RAE: It wasn’t too difficult for me until a few years later, when I started becoming more popular. I don’t think it’s normal for anyone to receive a lot of negative feedback all at once. I always tell people who ask how I do what I do that you really have to enjoy it, or it’s not sustainable.

If I had stopped because of people yelling at me or being rude, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s important to stick with what you love, no matter what.

BEX: It must be hard to shut out that noise sometimes. How do you switch off from that?

RAE: Therapy helped [laughs]. I’ve realised the only opinions that matter are how I feel about myself, and how my friends and family feel about me. People online might be going through something worse in real life and need somewhere to vent. Maybe it makes them feel better, maybe they’re jealous, sexist or racist—it could be a lot of things. I could never imagine treating someone like that, even anonymously. I feel like you have to be really hurt to hurt others in that way. It’s that thing: hurt people, hurt people.

BEX: You have such a positive outlook, though; it’s refreshing.

RAE: I don’t really have a choice. Otherwise, I’d be miserable, and I wouldn’t be able to do this. I have to stay positive at this point.

BEX: In the time you've been showing up on socials, both gaming and the entire notion of being an “influencer" have evolved. It’s a completely different ball game—

RAE: —It’s been really different since people started getting paid for posts and clips. Engagement is monetised, and it’s become a lot more common to be hateful online, spread misinformation, and degrade people. Drama is what gets attention; it feels morally wrong.

BEX: Are there any parts of you that are completely out of bounds online?

RAE: Oh man… When my dad had cancer, I took care of him for six months before he passed away. As a streamer, I could work from home and watch him, give him his meds and feed him during that time. My community all knew. I’d be like, “Okay, I have to go take care of my dad.”  That’s just one example of how open I’ve been. I remember going through a public breakup and crying on stream—it was just so vulnerable. I’ve cut all that out now. I don’t talk as openly anymore, and I don’t vent as much as I used to. No more public relationships, either, because people get very parasocial about it and assume things. I’m more private now. I used to be an open book, and I’d talk about everything.

BEX: I completely get why, but it’s sad in the sense that this used to be your outlet, too.

RAE: Yeah. I think what aided my popularity throughout my online career was that I was so open and vulnerable, so people related to me. Now I feel like I can’t show my full personality or talk about things the way that I used to. Maybe it’s for the best.

BEX: I’m getting a Clark Kent versus Superman vibe.

RAE: I gotta put my glasses on.

BEX: With all these changes, how has your idea of success changed, or maybe your relationship to success?

RAE: I’ve had to pivot. I’ve felt completely fulfilled and successful through streaming alone, but with the times changing, I’ve learnt that what’s most important is feeling happy within myself.

I wanted to experiment and do more outside of just gaming, so I’ve dabbled in voice acting, cameos for movies, and even doing interviews like this. I try not to say no to things because who knows if I will ever get these experiences again? I also started a media company called HiHi Studios, where we’re doing projects like Webtoons and comics, and hopefully shows in the future. Having something to look forward to and work towards keeps me feeling like I’m doing something great. 

BEX: The idea that success in the influencer world is based on an algorithm beyond your control seems stressful. It must be nice to have other projects that aren’t always dictated by that.

RAE: Definitely, but I think I’ll always see myself streaming. I can imagine myself playing Grand Theft Auto 7, which will probably come out in 40 years when I’m a Grandma. If I’m playing it, I’ll probably stream it. I used to stream nine hours a day, every single day—especially through COVID when everything blew up. Now being 34, I want more balance and to try other things that get me out of my computer chair.

BEX: So how do you maintain that online versus offline balance? 

RAE: What helps is that I have a lot of friends who have also been streaming for 10 years. We’re starting to feel the back pain, the hip pain—it’s not healthy to be sitting down so often, talking to screens. We’ll work out together, go for a walk, or have a day trip and get out of town and off social media for a while. My family in Washington are also so off the internet, when I visit them it reminds me what real life is supposed to be like.

BEX: I’d like to think the idea of “girlbossing” is kind of over. Does that get tiring, the link between your gender and all that you’re achieving?

RAE: It’s always been annoying. There are so many women who play games. A lot of them are just anonymous, or don’t put themselves out there because we’re being degraded or told to get back in the kitchen. In every interview I’ve had in the past, we talk about, “What is it to be a woman succeeding?”, yet it should be normalised at this point. I felt like we were progressing a few years ago, but now it feels like we’re going in the opposite direction. I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully inspire other women to realise that it’s okay to be yourself. I truly can’t believe the state of the world right now.

BEX: I was surprised when I researched the gender stats in gaming. I’d assumed there was going to be a hugely uneven split, which isn’t the case.

RAE: I truly look at gaming as interactive television. Everyone loves watching TV, so of course, women are going to love it. I truly think there’s a game for everyone, whether it’s a mobile game, a desktop game or even something like tic-tac-toe or chess. Everyone loves games. 

BEX: Knowing that lots of girls look up to you, does that feel like a pressure or a privilege?

RAE: It’s an honour. In life, I’ve questioned my purpose, and feeling like I’m inspiring people to do what they love makes me feel like I’m doing something good. When someone comes into my chat and says, “I just went through a breakup, how do you deal with it?” I’ll be like, “Auntie Rae, having gone through this many times, can tell you her experience.”  

BEX: I saw that you donated a large amount to charity recently as well—that must have been a real full-circle moment for you. 

RAE: Every year, I try to participate in at least one charity, but I’m usually involved in multiple. This past Christmas, I gave $100,000 to people in the community. All they had to do was comment what they were grateful for, and we randomly picked people and sent them $500 each. Seeing my community come together to do something good and give back makes me feel alive. 

BEX: We touched on it earlier, but you’re hosting multiple podcasts, acting, have a production agency and more. How do you find time to sleep?

RAE: It comes in waves. Right now, I’ve got three weeks of just being able to stream and chill, then I go to Cape Town to film a movie. I can’t say much about it, but it’s fun. Sometimes I sleep, sometimes I don’t.

BEX: Speaking of no sleep, how was Fashion Week?

RAE: Fashion Week is always such a surreal experience. I’m like, “What am I doing here? Did they invite the wrong person?” They treat you so well, they dress you up, you feel like a princess, and then you get to watch the show, which is a dream.

BEX: Was it a shock for you when you first got those invites? 

RAE: Yes! It always feels so out of body for me, especially in the moment when I’m getting my hair and makeup done and a stylist is dressing me. I don’t feel like I belong, but I’m not going to question it.

BEX: Expansion into outlets other than gaming is going incredibly well for you. What are you conquering next?

RAE: Outside of voice acting and movie cameos, with HiHi Studios we’re working on a video game and potentially a show in the future. I can’t share too much yet – these things take years and a lot of time – but I love being part of the process and being able to implement things that I personally like, and that my fans, friends and family would enjoy. You can expect a lot of cool things.

BEX: You’ve gone from streaming to being the CEO of multiple businesses. I guess you could say you’re the pro at learning as you go?

RAE: I was very careful when I became a full-time streamer—I slowly quit my jobs and made sure I had a safety net, because income on social media is inconsistent. I took a gamble joining 100 Thieves when it was very new, and now I’m a co-owner. I didn’t expect that, but it was one of the risks I had to take. Picking and choosing what you say yes and no to is really important.

BEX: Then longer term, if I asked about a dream or a goal with no limitations, what would it be?

RAE: Although I do feel like I’ve hit a lot of dreams already, I think my long-term goal right now would be for a HiHi Studios project to win a big award—whether it’s an Oscar or something like that. It would be the biggest honour and acknowledgment of how I’ve expanded my career outside of gaming. 

BEX: Career goals aside. In your dream world, where would I find you in twenty years?

RAE: My opinion on this has been changing. My sister just had a baby and it’s given me baby fever. I never wanted to have children, but the love I have for my nephew has been so surreal that I’ve been more open to starting a family. Maybe I’ll just keep streaming, or be behind the scenes, producing a show or something. No matter what, I’ll probably still be on the internet somewhere.

BEX: Is there anything about you that you think would surprise people?

RAE: Oh man, that’s tough. I feel like everyone knows everything about me.

BEX: It sounds like you're a pretty open book.

RAE: I think for me, it’s that every time I stream I still get nervous. Even though I’ve been on stage multiple times, given out awards, done award shows, presented, done interviews like this—it still scares me. You’d think I’d be used to it by now. I want people to know that even if things are scary, you just have to do it. That’s what I live by. Even when it’s uncomfortable, push past it and it can lead to good things. Just know I’m freaking out all the time.

BEX: I think that’s probably what’s kept you so relatable.

RAE: Some people’s egos inflate. I’ll always remember where I came from and how hard it was growing up. This is such a big blessing, I feel like I won the lottery. I’m just really grateful all the time.