Arielle, who goes by @AirBubblesCosplay on Twitch, has been gaming for more than 15 years! But, if you couldn’t tell by her name, this BroadcastHER Grant winner loves cosplay the most, including Magic the Gathering and Destiny. She’s also a mostly self-taught costumer, and loves sharing all the many ways to create a costume. Fun trivia: She also happens to have a pet tortoise.

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

I hope to one day be a source for fun, relaxing game play for casual gamers to enjoy and even join in! There’s no pressure for competition, just a great place to game. I also hope to become a source for learning cosplay techniques such as creating armor with worbla or simple sewing tricks.

How will the BroadcastHER Grant from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals?

It will mostly be used to upgrade my computer so I can stream more games and be able to multitask better with my viewers, including running smoother giveaways. A small amount of the grant will help me travel to a few upcoming conventions to present panels on cosplay!

What does being the recipient of the BroadcastHER Grant mean to you?

It means so much more than words can express. I started this journey wanting to make an impact within the community and this grant really makes me feel like I’m on the way there. The journey is certainly far from over, but I feel energized to jump in head first and keep going at full speed!

Women are underrepresented in gaming, broadcasting, and e-sports. What can we do to change this?

Sharing other female broadcasters is a huge start. Whether they have one viewer or one million, we have to stand with each other and share our work. I’ve been trying to follow more people and watch more streamers I never thought I would watch — and it’s been great. Supporting each other with views or financially is a huge step to getting more women to enter the gaming, broadcasting, and esports world. We have to share the love and encourage each other!

What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way?

Before I started streaming, I suffered from a lack of support for my passions and ambitions. As a teen, I wanted to play video games competitively. But t was frowned upon then for girls to play video games, so I gave up. When I learned how to make costumes, it was deemed something that could never be a real job. So I struggled to find the drive to continue since this was something I loved but also something I wanted to do for a living. Sometimes finding times to stream that work for myself as well as my community of viewers can be challenging, too.

What advice do you have for women who want to start broadcasting?

Don’t let low viewer count bring you down! If you have one viewer it’s okay! Just keep going. It’s hard, and trust me I’ve been there and I am still there on some days but it will get better. It will take time, but don’t give up! Things won’t happen overnight. What can help is joining local broadcast communities and reaching out to friends and family members to watch and support you. You got this. 

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I definitely have days where it is super hard but my community keeps me going. The positivity I receive from messages on Twitter or during my streams really help. My husband is also a huge factor. He is my hype man behind the scenes. I have a constant feeling of wanting to make him, my community, and my mother proud, so in those rough times I think of that and I keep going.