Aishah Sofey, a content creator before she ever even touched streaming. After spending five years building an online audience, she was recently invited to participate in Streamer University. This opportunity has put Sofey’s confidence to the test and has given her a lot of insight into herself.
Having been a streamer for only a few months, Sofey did not expect the pressure she would feel once the invitation letter arrived. For her, it was the biggest moment to prove her place in the industry and show everyone she takes streaming seriously.
In an exclusive interview for Where Is The Buzz, she said that pressure became much greater when problems started piling up. What was supposed to be the peak of her success proved quite difficult, and the fact that no one was trying to help only deepened her sense of isolation.
“Honestly, it was just so incredibly overwhelming. I’ve been grinding on social media for five years, but I had only been streaming for a couple of months before getting invited to Streamer University,” she said. “I wanted to prove I belonged there and that I was taking it seriously.”
Everything happened fast, and the technical difficulties got to her. The cameraman had not been cleared yet, and the lagging stream ruined her plans for a showcase.
“When my cameraman couldn’t get approved, and my stream kept lagging, it felt like my big moment was crashing down, and literally nobody was helping me. I completely broke down,” she continued.
The change came with Sofey’s fellow creator, Cinna. Instead of letting her get depressed about the situation, Cinna approached her and offered her some advice.
“Cinna pulling me aside changed everything. She reminded me of my actual stats and my worth. That I’m Aishah Sofey, I average crazy numbers for a reason, and I belong here,” she said. “Having a bigger creator actually step in and comfort me when I was spiraling completely shifted my energy and made me realize I didn’t have to do it all alone.”
The experience gave Sofey many new insights into her approach to streaming, including her fears about collaborating with bigger streamers. The problem with working together is the fear of becoming a so-called “clout chaser”. The label, which is very often thrown at creators by the streaming community, basically means someone who leans on bigger creators.
For Sofey, it meant something very bad. Having built an audience on her own, she did not want anyone to question how she got there or how she operates.
“That fear definitely comes from how quickly people are to put creators in a box. I’ve worked way too hard to build my own audience across all my platforms to just be labeled as someone who leeches off bigger names,” she said. “The streaming space can be super judgmental.”
Talking to Cinna helped Sofey realize that instead of protecting her brand by making herself small, she was limiting herself.
“But talking to Cinna really opened my eyes. She made me realize that shrinking myself and hiding in the corner doesn’t protect my brand; it just holds me back,” she explained.
Now, Sofey understands that being a “clout chaser” and collaboration are two different things. The key to successful partnerships is always authenticity.
“Going forward, I’m realizing that as long as the connection is natural and I’m bringing my own unique personality and ideas to the table, it’s not clout chasing. It’s just collaborating and making good content,” she added.
Being a critic of DDG and other streamers, Sofey decided not to participate in a so-called “date stream”. She explains that she was simply trying to set certain boundaries and not let any stories get in the way of her image.
“The whole situation with DDG just came down to boundaries and respect. I’m taking streaming seriously, and I want to be known for being genuinely entertaining, not just used as a prop for a forced ‘date stream’ narrative,” she explained.
Recognizing that the interaction is fake and does not help anyone is why she did not accept the invitation.
“When you can tell an interaction isn’t authentic and is just being set up to farm clips or put you in a weird spot, you have to draw a line. I called it out publicly because I want to set an early standard for how I’m treated. I’m here to build my own brand, period,” she said.
Using Streamer University experience, Sofey states that small creators are always treated as background characters at these events. They are invited to attend, but they never get a chance to be the center of attention or receive any additional help.
“It is so frustrating when you get invited to these massive events only to realize you’re just there to be an extra. Organizers and bigger creators really need to be more intentional about passing the mic,” she said.
Sofey suggests certain solutions to this issue. They are connected to changes in the event’s structure to encourage smaller streamers to participate actively.
“Instead of just focusing all the cameras on the same five massive names, they should design events that actually force integration. Put us in groups, bring smaller streamers into the main broadcasts, and make sure technical support is there for everyone, not just the VIPs,” she explained.
At last, Sofey said that inviting small creators just to create a great roster is an obligation to give them a chance to stand out.
“If you invite smaller creators because you want that big ‘class roster’ feel, you have to actually give them the space and resources to shine.”
