Elfie — elfcoffee on Twitch — loves to nerd out on video games. You’ll mainly find this BroadcastHER Academy winner playing OW2, Pokémon Unite, and Splatoon but sometimes there’s the random game thrown in the mix, too!

What is your dream in esports and gaming?

I would love to play on an esports team for Overwatch — or, one day, become a coach for a team while reviewing games or interviewing the voice actors and story board writers of video games.

What does being the BroadcastHER Academy winner, which includes a $1,000 grant and all-expense-paid visit to the HyperX Esports Arena to shadow, mean to you and how will it help you reach your goals?

It means getting the opportunity to surround myself with likeminded individuals who are taking a leap, whether in or out of their comfort zone, to follow their dreams.

This is honestly an opportunity of a lifetime for me and the number of resources provided to us can help build long-lasting connections and really fuel the inspiration to keep climbing — simply by seeing where we could all be one day.

Women and femmes are underrepresented in gaming, broadcasting, and esports. What can we do to change this?

Honestly, we have to push our way in (professionally, of course). We have to be our own light at the end of the tunnel and really show that we belong here because the hate is unreal.

It would be interesting to have something similar to GG Academy that catered to women and femmes — not only providing resources and opportunities for esports competing and casting, but also social media management and partner resources.

What are you most inspired by when it comes to creating encouraging content for young women and femmes in gaming, broadcasting, and esports?

I believe I am most inspired by the idea that I’m might maybe inspire someone else without even realizing it. No need for an “Elfie inspired me!” I am just happy and inspired by the domino effect of inspiration itself. There are a lot of people who have inspired me just by doing what they love with no regrets and being themselves!

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

I would definitely say financial poverty. It has been a long, rough journey throughout all of high school facing homelessness (I am in stable housing now, woo!) while trying to chase this dream of content creating and nerding out with people over video games.

In addition, I’ve faced massive disrespect toward me as not only a women but also a POC. It’s a bit rough, at times, dealing with misogyny or racist comments during a match or even in stream. But being part of several amazing communities has given me some tough skin!

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

Put the blindfold on and go in… don’t focus on the numbers and go at your pace while also remembering that everyone has a different path, regardless of having similar goals and dreams.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

The vision of what my future could look like for not only myself, but my family keeps me going. Being able to sort of prove that it’s possible to do something you love as a job while uplifting others keeps the gears churning even on the worst days.