“Positive vibes with a sassy attitude!” That’s how @nikkigames11 describes herself — and her stream. The BroadcastHER Grant winner is a variety streamer who gravitates towards games from the Grand Theft Auto and Need For Speed series. She also does digital art — creating Twitch badges, emotes, panels, and more!

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

My dream is to have the ability to stream whatever games I like and to have a successful and booming art commission business!

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

The grant will help me upgrade my setup for my content creation. I’m a perfectionist, so I only want to bring the best-quality content to the table for my community. This grant will help me with that goal and I’m beyond thankful!

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

Being a recipient of the BroadcastHER Grant is a reflection of the work I’ve been putting into my content creation and it motivates me to do better and to do more.

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

Have more groups like BroadcastHER! When I first came to Twitch, I didn’t have a group that I felt super-welcomed into, but I’ve found a community of wonderful women in Brown Girl Gamer Code and now the BroadcastHER community. Seeing people who look like me and who are interested in what I’m interested in is such a confidence booster. The more visible groups like this become, the more people will have to pay attention to us and respect what we bring to the table.

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

I have been harassed on Twitch and not protected by those I thought were close to me. I have felt unwelcome in more chats than I can count. I have had the difficulty of comparing myself to other streamers, and the list goes on! Being on Twitch has been difficult at times, but the amazing individuals I have met have helped to make the journey worthwhile.

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

Just do it! Do your research; watch tons of streams to get ideas of what you want to do and don’t want to do; and see if there are communities you can join before you even start streaming. I’ve found that most of my viewers and supporters come from other communities I’m a part of. Don’t fake friendships with others just to get your numbers up. Make real, lasting relationships with others and watch your own community flourish! Oh, and do what you can with what you have.

I used to stream using my TV, capture card, console, and a side table that held my laptop on it. My setup still isn’t perfect now, but the journey of slowly upgrading everything has made me thankful I started when I did with what I had.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

Honestly, my planner has been the one thing that really keeps me on track with my content creation goals. I ensure my goals are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based) and I break up my large goals into smaller chunks so they aren’t as foreboding. The main thing I remember, which is easier said than done at times, is that this is MY journey. It won’t look like everyone else’s and that’s perfectly fine.