This tattooed mom has a full Disney sleeve, changes her hair color a lot, and is constantly laughing at herself. But, @Danidos is also a game developer, voice actor, and hairstylist — and she does PR and marketing for an indie video game company. And, yes, on top of all that, this BroadcastHER Grant recipient streams a variety of games, but mostly horror and indies.  The first game she ever played was Duke Nukem and the game that inspired her to get into voice acting was Tomb Raider!

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

My dream is voice acting and making video games live on Twitch.

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

It will help me get better equipment to work on huge projects in the indie gaming industry.

What does being a recipient mean to you?

It feels like people believe in me. As a single mom of two, I’ve struggled a lot and I never thought an organization like this could exist — let alone choose me as a recipient. I feel seen and heard.

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

BroadcastHER is such a great step in that direction. We need to normalize how identifying women exist just as much as identifying men. We are here, and we do just as much if not more.

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

Not being taken seriously and sexual harassment are two challenges I’ve experienced.

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

Be yourself — 100% yourself. Not everyone is truly there for you, so hold on to the ones who are. Be selfish in your content so you aren’t compromising who you are for others.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I’d say my kids, but it’s me. I’ve been through so much in my life that I’m the only one who can truly motivate myself. I deal with my consequences and no one else. I struggle daily due to bipolar, but I haven’t and won’t give up because I hope to inspire someone someday.