Valkyrae

Variety gaming and community.

Rachell Marie Hofstetter (born January 8, 1992), known online as Valkyrae, is an American livestreamer and internet personality of Filipino and German descent. Born in Moses Lake, Washington, she launched a YouTube channel in 2014 and began streaming on Twitch in 2015 while working at GameStop. She gained a wider audience in 2018 playing Fortnite and became the first female content creator to join the esports organization 100 Thieves. After signing an exclusive YouTube deal in 2020, her viewership surged during a wave of Among Us streams, and that year she won Content Creator of the Year at The Game Awards.

Biographyedit

Early lifeedit

Hofstetter was born on January 8, 1992, in Moses Lake, Washington, and is of Filipino and German descent. She earned an associate degree in arts and science from a community college. Before her streaming career she worked at a GameStop retail store.

Career beginningsedit

Hofstetter launched her YouTube channel in 2014 and began streaming on Twitch in 2015. She initially built an audience playing Fortnite, with a breakthrough in 2018. In October 2018 she joined the esports and lifestyle organization 100 Thieves as its first female content creator.

YouTube deal and Among Usedit

On January 13, 2020, Hofstetter signed an exclusive streaming contract with YouTube. Although she initially averaged around 1,500 concurrent viewers, her audience grew dramatically in late 2020 as she streamed the social-deduction game Among Us, at times exceeding 100,000 concurrent viewers. Other content has included Grand Theft Auto V on the NoPixel roleplay server, Minecraft, and Pokemon Nuzlocke challenges.

100 Thieves co-ownershipedit

On April 7, 2021, Hofstetter became a co-owner of 100 Thieves, taking an equity stake in the organization, which was reported to be valued at around $190 million that year. In 2022 she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the games category, recognizing her influence in gaming and streaming.

Business venturesedit

In September 2022, Hofstetter became an ambassador for the fitness apparel brand Gymshark. In September 2024 she founded Hihi Studios, a company focused on anime-inspired media. She has also pursued merchandise and brand partnerships through her association with 100 Thieves.

RFLCT skincareedit

On October 19, 2021, Hofstetter launched RFLCT, a skincare brand marketed as offering protection from blue light emitted by screens. The line drew criticism from viewers and experts who said the blue-light-damage claims were unsubstantiated. Hofstetter acknowledged that the concerns were warranted and valid, and the brand ceased operations on October 30, 2021, about eleven days after launch.

Awards and recognitionedit

In 2020, Hofstetter won Content Creator of the Year at The Game Awards. She won Gaming Creator of the Year at the 2021 Adweek Awards and the Livestreamer award at the 2021 Streamy Awards. At the Streamer Awards she received the Sapphire Award in 2024, and in 2026 she was named to Time magazine's Time100 Creators list.

Personal lifeedit

Hofstetter resides in Los Angeles. She was in a relationship with streamer Michael 'Sonii' Sherman from 2016 to 2021. From April 2023 to July 2024 she lived with fellow streamers Fuslie, Kkatamina, and TinaKitten, a group known as 'The Roomies.' Her father died of cancer in April 2017, and her half-brother Mark died in February 2026.

Valkyrae: quick facts

How old is Valkyrae?
Valkyrae is 34 years old, born Jan 8, 1992.
What is Valkyrae's real name?
Valkyrae's real name is Rachell Marie Hofstetter.
Where is Valkyrae from?
Valkyrae is from United States.
How tall is Valkyrae?
Valkyrae is 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) tall.
What is Valkyrae's net worth?
Valkyrae has an estimated net worth of $4–15 million (HotNewHipHop, 2024). Net-worth figures for creators are estimates and are not officially confirmed.
When did Valkyrae start streaming?
Valkyrae has been active online since 2014.
What is Valkyrae known for?
Valkyrae is known for Among Us streaming, 100 Thieves co-owner, Content Creator of the Year 2020, and YouTube Gaming.
What platform is Valkyrae on?
Valkyrae primarily streams on YouTube.

Compare estimates on the richest streamers ranking.

Career timelineedit

  1. 1992-01-08event
    Born
    Rachell Marie Hofstetter is born in Moses Lake, Washington.
  2. 2014platform
    YouTube channel
    Launches her YouTube channel.
  3. 2015platform
    Starts on Twitch
    Begins streaming on Twitch while working at GameStop.
  4. 2018-10membership
    Joins 100 Thieves
    Becomes the first female content creator to join 100 Thieves.
  5. 2020-01platform
    YouTube deal
    Signs an exclusive streaming contract with YouTube.
  6. 2020event
    Among Us surge
    Her viewership surges streaming Among Us, at times exceeding 100,000 concurrent viewers.
  7. 2020award
    Game Awards win
    Wins Content Creator of the Year at The Game Awards.
  8. 2021-04membership
    100 Thieves co-owner
    Becomes a co-owner of 100 Thieves with an equity stake.
  9. 2021-10controversy
    RFLCT skincare
    Launches and then shuts down the RFLCT skincare brand amid backlash over blue-light claims.
  10. 2021-12award
    Streamy Award
    Wins the Livestreamer award at the Streamy Awards.
  11. 2022award
    Forbes 30 Under 30
    Named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the games category.
  12. 2024-09project
    Hihi Studios
    Founds the anime-inspired media company Hihi Studios.
  13. 2025-01platform
    Returns to Twitch
    Returns to streaming on Twitch.
  14. 2026award
    Time100 Creators
    Named to Time magazine's Time100 Creators list.

Collaborations & communitiesedit

Content & loreedit

Accolades

  • Content Creator of the Year — The Game Awards 2020
  • Livestreamer of the Year — Streamy Awards 2021
  • Forbes 30 Under 30
  • Co-host of The Streamer Awards — 2023

Signature games

  • Among Us — her breakout collaborative era (2020)
  • GTA V roleplay — on NoPixel
  • Valorant
  • Fortnite
  • Minecraft

Career milestones

  • YouTube exclusive move — 2020
  • 100 Thieves co-owner — 2021
  • One of the most-watched female streamers — 2020
  • Rose to fame in the Among Us collab era

Triviaedit

  • In 2020 she became the first woman to win Content Creator of the Year at The Game Awards.
  • She joined 100 Thieves in October 2018 as its first female content creator.
  • Her Among Us streams in late 2020 at times exceeded 100,000 concurrent viewers.
  • She worked at GameStop before pursuing streaming full-time.
  • Her RFLCT skincare brand shut down about eleven days after its October 2021 launch.
  • She was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 games list in 2022.
  • She founded the anime-inspired media company Hihi Studios in September 2024.
  • She returned to Twitch in January 2025 and was among the most-watched female streamers on the platform in her first week back.

See also

References

  1. 1.↑HotNewHipHop
  2. 2.↑Pokimane — Wikipedia (accessed 2026-08-02)
  3. 3.↑Fuslie — Wikipedia (accessed 2026-08-02)
  4. 4.↑Hasan Piker — Wikipedia (accessed 2026-08-02)
  5. 5.↑Sykkuno — Wikipedia (accessed 2026-08-02)
  6. 6.↑Valkyrae — Wikipedia (accessed 2026-08-02)
  7. 7.Valkyrae — official YouTube channel — YouTube (accessed 2026-08-02)
  8. 8.Valkyrae — photograph — Wikimedia Commons (accessed 2026-08-02)