Her name is Cecilia, but everyone just calls her Cece — or @HylianCece on Twitch. Based in Sun Valley, California, she’s a variety streamer and has an open mind when trying out new games. But, she most loves spending her time focused on story-mode games like The Legend of Zelda and The Witcher — that is when she’s not “grinding at games” like Fortnite with her friends.

In addition to her passion for gaming, she really hopes to positively inspire other female broadcasters and work towards a greater sense of equality in the industry.

Cece is our second grant recipient of the 1DF BroadcastHer Academy, which represents seasoned streamers who are making a positive difference in the industry.

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

My dream is to inspire and influence others.

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 more than I can say! I’ve been working hard on Twitch for a long time without any proper equipment and now it’s nice to be able to upgrade my equipment and to see how it improves the quality. I just can’t even express my appreciation into words!

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

I feel like we can continue to support women and bring awareness to the harassment and disrespect that women receive in the gaming and broadcasting industry — often from male gamers who try to put women down. But, we can also bring positivity as we continue to broadcast and share hopes for equality.

What are you most inspired by when it comes to creating encouraging content for young women in gaming, broadcasting, and e-sports

Three female streamers have truly inspired me: Valkyrae, KeybladeSarah, and MegKaylee. They’ve been supportive in ways I never expected and have pushed me to keep going at times when I felt like quitting.

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

Financial challenges for sure… I never had the money for equipment. I streamed from my console in a living room with bad audio and a bad video cam. I received a Nintendo Switch for my birthday, but I had no computer to stream it. But, I was determined and found an IRL app on my iPad and faced the iPad to my Switch and streamed the game like that. It was very difficult to gain a following and a community like that; I was laying on the floor and turning all the lights off to avoid glare! My back would hurt and my eyes would hurt until finally my boyfriend helped me build my first PC for Christmas two years after streaming from the iPad!

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

Don’t give up. People will try to pull you down in ways you might not even expect. People will sometimes come to your streams just to talk about your appearance — and sometimes in negative ways — but don’t give up.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I do my best to remember that this is what I love; this is what I enjoy. Remembering the days that I was streaming on the floor with an iPad and thinking about how much I’ve accomplished since then helps me keep moving forward.