Creator Interview - SlaywithBrandy

We have been huge fans of Brandy and her content for years. She was an early supporter and long time GiFriends member back when Game Infinite was brand new. We have followed her work when she was still a small creator. We have watched her amazing skills as cosplay and twitch streaming grow over the years. She is one of the nicest people, and has always been a joyful support of our page. She has guest appeared before on our Youtube Channel in our #InfiniteSummer23 State of Gaming Discussion Panel! It has been great to be a collaborative partner of Brandy for a while, so when I started to brain storm the idea of launching a new series of Creator Interviews, I knew Brandy had to be a part of our first wave. We have many amazing creators lined up to do interviews, but we are excited to kick it off with her. Read the full interview below, and make sure to follow her on Instagram , Twitch , or X.

(@Slaywithbrandy Cosplays)

@SLAYWITHBRANDY INTERVIEW:

GI: 1. Can you tell us about your journey into the world of content creation? How did you combine cosplay, Twitch streaming, YouTube content?

BRANDY: I began making cosplays back when I was in highschool and the idea of cosplaying was still “lame” and not well recognized honestly. Several people made fun of me for dressing up but I loved learning how to sew and being creative and embracing my favorite franchises. I didn’t start going to conventions until I graduated high school and finally had the money and transportation to do so though and clearly my addiction has only grown from there. As for streaming I began back when the PS4 came out because it had built in streaming right on the console itself. So I started with that about 8 years ago and just continued to improve my setup overtime to where I am at now. And now, here I am, nearly 4 years deep into creating content as my full time job and I love being able to blend all of my interests across multiple platforms. I love the versatility of being able to make a plethora of content and each platform gives me the means to differentiate my content as I see fit!

GI: 2. Your presence spans across multiple platforms. How do you tailor your content to suit each platform's audience while maintaining your signature style?

BRANDY: Tailoring my content can certainly be tricky at times across each platform. I personally love to blend my content a bit from site to site but also depending on the platform it is also better to grow within a niche so making multiple accounts sometimes is my best bet to get the best of both worlds. One thing I always stay true to though is being my most genuine self. Regardless if it’s through photos, videos, or live streams, I am myself through and through despite trying to fit into the boxes that social media loves to place us in.

GI: 3. Your focus on horror cosplay and streaming is intriguing. What draws you to this genre, and how do you bring a unique perspective to it?

BRANDY: I have always been a huge fan of horror ever since I was little! I love the games, movies, cosplays, it’s just “different” and I feel like that really suits me as a person. The act of feeling scared from these mediums is such an adrenaline rush and something about seeing how people can be creative in this genre draws me to want to do the same. I love making horror cosplays because I get to stand out from the crowd. More times than not I get to become characters people shy away from and I get to show my love for a game or franchise that may not always get the attention it deserves. I love getting the opportunity to bring horror to new people and potential fans of the genre!

(See Brandy on Youtube as well! She does gameplay and discussions!)

GI: 4. Dead by Daylight is a big part of your passionate community. Could you share some memorable experiences or interactions you've had within that community while streaming or creating content? What draws you to that game?

BRANDY: I’ve literally been playing DBD since launch so the memories with that game are countless. Something I do love about the game though is how much it has allowed me to meet new people and create new friendships. Through having my twitch as my username, so many people come through my streams after matches and many of those individuals have stuck around even years later, and for that, I’m grateful. The game itself draws me in because I love horror! It blends my love of horror movies and games so wonderfully and it’s just hard to not get sucked in!

GI: 5. Could you walk us through your creative process when planning and executing a horror cosplay? How do you ensure attention to detail while staying true to your unique vision?

BRANDY: I am very particular about my cosplays, especially my horror ones because I try to stay as true to the character as I can typically. For example, when making my Keeper cosplay from the Evil Within, even with my props I tried to match exact blood splatters and rivets to the in-game model as best I could because I like that little attention to detail. When it comes to any cosplay I always try to compile as many reference photos as possible of every angle of the character so I make everything exactly as it is. The only time I really step outside the box for characters is if I do swimsuit or boudoir versions for particular events.

GI: 6. Diversity, Pride, and women in gaming are important topics. How do you strive to promote inclusivity and representation within your content and interactions with your audience and the gaming industry as a whole. What do you need from platforms like us that wish to be a support and ally?

BRANDY: Being a woman in this industry has always been a challenge and just in general I’ve found even growing up that I was judged for liking things that seem to be more “male focused”. I was picked on growing up for liking gaming, comics and rock music and now as an adult I’ve made it a goal of mine for these stigmas to be dropped and for women to be accepted in these areas. I’m part of the Twitch Women’s Guild and a big mission we have is to help women get more exposure and be taken more seriously in this industry and that is something I am so proud to be a part of. I’m also part of another women run twitch/content creator group as well and taking part in these groups really allows me to support my fellow women as best I can. In terms of diversity in gaming, I am also demisexual and fall under the asexual umbrella of LGBTQIA+ and many times than not people will judge me solely based on that. I have grown more comfortable in recent years with sharing more of my identity and I make a big effort to promote a safe and positive space within my stream and across my socials for others to feel comfortable and confident doing the same.

ICYMI: #INFINITESUMMER23 State of Gaming Discussion Panel with Brandy as a guest creator.

GI: 7. What challenges have you faced as a content creator, when discussing diversity in gaming? How do you navigate and overcome these challenges?

BRANDY: I have definitely received hate simply for being a woman in this industry unfortunately. Women get stereotyped, attacked for their body, their image, their knowledge, and countless other things. Trying to push back against that adversity can be tough at times but luckily overtime this industry allows you to build thick skin. The comments and remarks still get me sometimes, but overtime you get used to people simply being internet trolls. It sucks to say you “get used to it”, but at the end of the day this is an industry where you really put yourself out there so criticism is to be expected.

GI: 8. Balancing cosplay, streaming, and YouTube content can be demanding. How do you manage your time effectively and ensure quality output across all your creative pursuits?

BRANDY: I am a workaholic at heart. I constantly am moving and working on my next project because I simply like being busy and creating content. I am very organized and schedule out every bit of my week to make sure I have time for all of the things I want to do as well as all of the things I need to do. Whenever I feel overworked or burned out I try to adjust my schedule accordingly to stay within my means but to still meet the personal goals I’ve set for myself.

GI: 9. You have collaborated in various ways with Game Infinite for years now. What do you enjoy most about working with us? Have we been a positive support element to you as a content creator? What would you like to see us offer in terms of support in the future, and how can we better offer you support?

BRANDY: You all are always so friendly to me and even when I was a much smaller creator you have always supported me and for that I am so grateful. I would love to continue working with you all and see what ideas you come up with next! Always onto bigger and better things for sure!

GI: 10. Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for your content creation career? Are there any new projects, collaborations, you’d like to share with our readers?

BRANDY: In the long run I obviously want to be able to keep doing this job as long as I can. I absolutely love the freedom of being my own boss and my favorite thing about this industry is that there is no ceiling. Nothing is stopping me from continuing to grow, to make new connections, and to grow my career beyond what I can even imagine. Currently I have a few conventions lined up for the fall that I will be attending and some that I will be guesting at! (Like Anime NYC) I cannot wait to get back into the convention grind of things and just keep putting myself out there to meet new amazing individuals.

Thank You for stopping by our creator interview! Make sure to drop them a follow on your preferred social media! If you have a creator you would like us to highlight, let us know!