Sweet yet direct, @Jesstreams says her loudmouth personality is a direct result of her interesting background: She was born and raised in the Netherlands with Ghanaian and Ivorian blood running through her veins! If you ask this BroadcastHER Grant winner, she’ll also tell you she likes to be lazy and binge-watch her series as well as sing, dance, and play games with friends. But, what she really loves is to get the conversation going with her followers — no shyness or small talk allowed!

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

My dream is to inspire and encourage people of color in the Netherlands to get into streaming. When I started streaming on Twitch, it was really hard to find Dutch POC streamers on Twitch. No one could really name a Dutch POC that I could watch and could relate to. And, honestly, it’s really discouraging if you don’t see people you can relate to. It made me feel pretty alone.

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

I feel so incredibly happy and blessed to have been chosen! It means I will be able to upgrade my Twitch Sings streams by buying a microphone and a mixer. I’ve also been working off and on stream to go to TwitchCon 2020 in America. I’ve never been to America and I would like to meet people of my community during this event. With the funds, I will be able to do so.

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

It really means so much to me that it’s hard to describe it. The fact that my dream has been seen by 1,000 Dreams Fund and they are willing to grant me this opportunity is beyond amazing!

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

Women need to have more opportunities and exposure in gaming, broadcasting, and esports; that’s what will inspire other women to get involved.

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

I have faced a lot racism and trolls while streaming. Surprisingly, it has never really bothered me — which is weird because I thought it would. I learned that only people who I truly care about — like my family and friends — are the only ones that have the power to hurt me. The only thing that I don’t like is when we are having a good time on stream and people try to ruin it for others. That’s why I try to make my stream as safe as possible for my viewers.

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

Be yourself and do you! Don’t try to be a certain character because you think people want to see that kind of person. And don’t compare yourself to others!

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

My community. Every time I feel insecure about what I’m putting out there, my people lift me up by sending me sweet messages and by saying the nicest things after I hit that live button.