Rachell Marie Hofstetter, professionally known as Valkyrae, was born on January 8, 1992, in Moses Lake, Washington. Her early passion for gaming was nurtured by her mother, eventually leading her from a job at GameStop to the world of content creation. She first gained a following on Instagram in 2014 before officially launching her streaming career on Twitch in 2015. Valkyrae's meteoric rise to fame accelerated in 2018 with her high-skill Fortnite gameplay, leading her to become the first female creator signed to the gaming organization 100 Thieves. Her career reached global heights in 2020 after signing an exclusive streaming deal with YouTube, where her Among Us collaborations earned her "Content Creator of the Year" at The Game Awards. By 2026, Valkyrae has transitioned into a powerful entrepreneur and industry leader. As a co-owner of 100 Thieves and the CEO of Hihi Studios, she successfully balances competitive gaming with media production and podcasting. Now utilizing a multi-platform streaming strategy, she continues to break records and advocate for women in gaming, remaining one of the most influential digital icons of the current decade.