With a name like @EmmySugarPop, we just had to know what her favorite dessert is… and it’s lavender gelato! This BroadcastHER Grant winner has a wide variety of interests — from cosplay, modeling, and Japanese fashion, to photography, art, science, astronomy, economics, health, dancing, and OF COURSE, video games!

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

I want to create a community and safe space for all. I hope to create my own video game, too, one day and I look forward to expressing my passion in gaming, cosplaying, pop culture, and so much more.

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

It will provide me with a computer from which I can stream and create. It will give me the tools I need to start up in the broadcasting community.

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

It means perseverance. For all winners, it clears roadblocks to dreams, so we can have a better head start and opportunity to pursue those dreams and make them a reality. It also means giving back to the community to help other woman like me find their way into their passions, as well.

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

Personally, I will try to be even more involved and a mentor to other women in the community. I really want to be part of an esports team myself, too.

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

So many things.. having to take care of family; being diagnosed with a chronic illness that changed everything for me; learning to live through a pandemic as a low-immune individual. But I’m still striving and pushing toward my dreams in streaming. That has never stopped.

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

Even if it seems like such a long-distance goal, never stop looking for opportunities and never give up on yourself along the way when presented with “no” after “no.” Keep pushing forward until you find your “yes” opportunities.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I continuously look for ways to participate — even as a viewer — in what I am passionate about. I don’t just ignore what I love when I can’t always achieve it right away. I still keep myself involved in some small way.