When we started Refinery29 Twitch, we knew we wanted to use it not only to provide a fun, safe space for women and non-binary folks to share in their love of gaming, but also to spotlight the pros, gamers, and streamers who are pushing the status quo in the industry both online and IRL. But with a vast world of content creators competing for attention on Twitch alone, finding streamers who you love can be a challenge.
Enter Tuesday Takeovers, where we invite some of our fave under-the-radar streamers onto our channel to do what they do best: game. Think of it as the Discover Weekly of Twitch where you’ll have two hours of guaranteed entertainment weekly, while also discovering talented streamers who are more than worthy of you clicking the follow or subscribe button. Ahead, read on to meet the Twitch streamers who are all about inclusivity, connecting with others, and having fun.
Kaelena
Kaelena has carved out a cozy corner on the internet, where it’s safe to have candid conversations about topics like mental health, inclusivity, political issues, and more. Naturally, these conversations are easier to have against the backdrop of fun and welcoming gaming — she likes titles such as Minecraft, Palia, and Horizon Zero Dawn — makeup, and crafting streams. She’s also a charity streamer and has raised over $50,000 since 2020 for a variety of organizations, including the It Gets Better Project.
Ashlinaa
Ashlinaa has dubbed herself the “Halloqueen” because she loves all things related to the spooky holiday, including cozy horror games and scary movies. According to her bio, she “wants to inspire, spread love and kindness, open [her] heart, and live an adventurous life — all while playing video games.” But her channel isn’t all gaming. She also uses her streams to fundraise for charity, and share about being Latina, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, living with a chronic illness, and lifestyle content.
Stelllajo
Stelllajo’s love of Neopets and Club Penguin turned her into the cozy-game-lover she is today. Recently, you can find her playing a lot of Stardew Valley — she was featured on GameRant after she made a pixel art recreation of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” in the game, and she also is running a series on TikTok where she plays one in-game Stardew day every real-life day.
Maisterious
Mai — aka Maisterious is a Filipina German creator who grew up watching YouTubers and online streams of her favorite video games. Four years ago, she decided to try steaming as a hobby and says “it has completely changed her life.” Now, Mai is a full-time streamer and loves sharing story games, open-world RPGs, action-adventures, and horror titles with her community. Naturally, The Last of Us is her most beloved franchise. Aside from gaming content, don’t be surprised to find her singing karaoke or chatting about tattoos, sisterhood, fashion, skincare, beauty, musicals, and her love for One Direction.
Cide
Long-time streamer Cide has used video games as an outlet to help her through life’s rough patches — she even worked at GameStop for a time. Today, she’s taking streaming from her side hustle to full-time job and describes herself as a “video game collector, player, and enthusiast.” She has over 2,300 games and 20 consoles in her library, which means you can find just about anything on her channel, where she focuses on first-plays of new, old, indie, or AAA titles.
mangolily0
After being diagnosed with lupus years ago, mangolily0 decided to start streaming art on Twitch as a way to build an inclusive online community of “fellow artists, art lovers, and super heckin’ cool kids.” A self-taught mixed-media artist into all things cyberpunk and macabre, mangolily0 loves character design and uses their channel to highlight their original art while exploring chronic illness, mental health, gender, identity, and more.
ctrlaltquin
The best way to describe the vibes on ctrlaltquin’s channel? This line, taken directly from their bio: “I talk a lot, I play everything, and I have a lot of love! Take off your socks and stay awhile.” As a voice actor, comedian, and a game-loving variety streamer, ctrlaltquin also uses their platform to advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and create visibility for trans creators. Their channel blends improv, discussions/panels, comedy, and competitive gaming. They’re also a huge Star Wars fan.
SherrySnax
We’ve all had those moments where we’ve opened Netflix, only to close it after a few minutes of aimless scrolling because we can’t decide what to watch. SherrySnax — a repeat Tuesday Takeover streamer! — is the perfect creator for those occasions. A variety streamer in the truest sense of the word, you can find her streaming about a wide range of topics, including cosplay, RPGs like Zelda and Final Fantasy, self-care, her recent ADHD diagnosis, and even cooking and baking.
Jhanna
Jhanna rarely goes into her streams with a plan — that’s because she likes letting her audience contribute to the flow of the conversation and is also passionate about speaking her mind when it comes to issues women and the LGBTQ community face. In fact, one of her goals with her channel is to encourage others to be outspoken and take up space, too. But Jhanna also knows how to have fun, which is why you’ll also find content about gaming (she’s partial to competitive FPS titles), pop culture, food, beauty, and more.
Zefrine
Feel-good vibes await over at Zefrine’s channel. The bubbly streamer says she has “big sister energy” and creates streams “that feel like a hug,” making her corner of the internet the ideal place to hang out. Her passion for gaming started when her brothers handed her an unplugged Sega Genesis controller, leading her to become obsessed with games like The Sims, Zelda, Diablo, and so much more. She still plays a wide variety of games to this day, but tends to stream sandbox-style games that stretch the creative muscle (think Animal Crossing and Minecraft) while prioritizing genuine positivity.
MeganHertz
Twitch Women’s Guild MemberMeganHertz (who, btw, is another return streamer in our Tuesday Takeover series!) uses her enthusiastic passion for gaming and streaming as a way to normalize having open and sensitive conversations about mental health. She’s also a huge fan of retro games — think Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon titles — which extends to love of all things ‘90s pop culture nostalgia. She also uses her platform to raise money for nonprofits such as National Children’s Alliance, Girls Who Code, Planned Parenthood, and Born This Way Foundation.
Emryskay
Emryskay says their channel is a place “where the goofiest goobers thrive.” Their gameplay mainly focuses on Sims 4 legacy challenges (on which they’ve spent hours upon hours on), and they bring a fun, playful energy to their content. Aside from gaming, Emryskay also likes chatting about current events, music, and what they’re reading at any given moment.
xoPEACHI
As a long-time gamer, xoPEACHI loves sharing the retro games (on original hardware whenever possible) that have shaped her — something she’s noticed has helped soothe her anxiety because she’s prepared for what to expect. Also an avid cosplayer, xoPEACHI tends to prefer games with strong narratives, and likes to use her channel as a space to build community. She also lives with both ADHD and OCD, and is sure to talk about mental health in general because open conversations were what prompted her to seek diagnoses, so she wants to help others who may need the same encouragement.
Follow the rest of our Tuesday Takeover guest streamers: ChellOAG | Beeluxi | GPTV | HeroKerrey | OMJess | Toffeinated | DinomiteTwins | Hyjules | AshleyThaBest | Amisometimes | Marydearest | Miao| Ececlare | Kiwisong | KandidlyKayla | CaylaKat | TheMayhemMermaid | InvestedCrybaby | AuraScopeTV | 8BitDee | Meadow | Moohoodles | Naycir | Lillipie101 | SupremeSensai | ColletteNic | Honey718 | Queerlybee | HockeyJetty | JenIsOnline | Hausplantgirl | SincerelySunshineCat | Trash | DrinkSopa | Kaelena | Eyesonbee | HeyKipp | Lolobean | TiffanyLockheart | Jupiverse | Evolcigam |Willow | Vana | PlayWithMae | ohinova | QueenTenae | KokoNata | Knimbley | LenaLioness | thegeminibean | Jerbifer | Mikfoolery | ChelseaBytes | itsHilaryMason | MeliaJanae | Ghostbunbun | Versachiko | egg_babe | Crossing_Chronicles | Achauie | AmiSometimes | Charmelian | AshSaidHi
Interested in taking over our Twitch channel? Apply on our Discord!
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This article was originally published on refinery29.com.