Valkyrae Claps Back at Lookalike Comparisons with Pokimane: "She's Not Even Asian"

Popular streamer Valkyrae recently addressed viewers' remarks drawing similarities between her and Pokimane, emphasizing that the comparisons are merely due to both being prominent figures in the streaming industry.

Rachell ‘Valkyrae’ Hofstetter, a well-known female streamer, expressed her thoughts on the matter during a YouTube stream on October 17, prompted by a fan's comment on her subreddit questioning why she resembles Pokimane.

Disputing the comparison, Valkyrae exclaimed, “Dude, I am Asian! I’m a German-Filipino girl with wavy hair. I think Poki actually has curly hair. This is my natural hair, okay? I don’t think Poki and I look alike. I do take it as a compliment, because she is so beautiful — but it is baffling to me."

She further elaborated, “I think it’s truly just because we’re both streamers that people are like, ‘Oh, you guys look alike.’ Poki’s not even Asian, she’s Moroccan. I don’t see it. I think if I was in a different field, or if she were in a different field, we would never be compared, but I think these kids assume that we look alike because we’re both streamers.”

Despite Valkyrae acknowledging the compliments, fans have expressed differing opinions. One YouTube user commented, “Twins… I think Rae is gaslighting.”

Another fan mentioned, “There are definitely ‘vague similarities’ with the two of them. [It’s] like one of those things in certain photos side by side, if you squint your eyes a little bit you can see it.”

This is not the first instance where Valkyrae has addressed comparisons to other female streamers. In a previous incident in August, she responded to a viewer who likened her to “Jodi” due to her purple hair, emphasizing the peculiarity of being compared based on hair color.

Expressing her frustration, Valkyrae stated, “It’s weird dyeing my hair, and being compared to other women because I dye my hair. I feel like a lot of women have hair. …It’s like, what am I supposed to do?”

Valkyrae has demonstrated her willingness to confront critical comments, recently responding to an online troll who criticized her for dressing up as a “schoolgirl” at 32 years old, asserting her right to make choices without being subjected to age-related judgments.

As Valkyrae continues to navigate her streaming career, she remains steadfast in addressing misconceptions and standing up against unwarranted comparisons, emphasizing individuality and the importance of recognizing differences among content creators in the industry.