Pokimane

Who Is Pokimane?

Imane Anys (Arabic: إِيْمَان أَنِيْس), born May 14, 1996, is better known by her online name Pokimane. She is a Moroccan-Canadian internet personality, Twitch streamer, and YouTuber.

Pokimane continues to be a prolific streamer and content creator, with over 6.62 million YouTube subscribers, as well as 9.3 million followers and 168.5 million viewers on Twitch.

Furthermore, in 2021, she was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30, under the “Games” category.

She is not just a gamer. She is a co-founder, an entrepreneur, a podcaster, and a cultural icon. Pokimane is the face of an entire generation of online creators — and she built that status one stream at a time.

Early Life: From Casablanca to Canada

Born in Morocco, Raised in Canada

Pokimane was born on May 14, 1996, in Casablanca, Morocco. She immigrated to Mississauga, Canada, at the age of four.

She spent her early childhood years in Canada, where she learned to speak French and English. Moreover, she also speaks Darija — the Moroccan Arabic dialect — and holds dual Moroccan-Canadian citizenship.

She adapted well to her new environment and excelled academically from a young age.

A Family of Academics

She was born and grew up in a family of academics. Her mother, Hafida Anys, belongs to Berber ancestry. Her father, Rachid Anys, is Moroccan. She has an elder brother named Mohamed Anys (Mo) and a younger sister named Yasmina Anys.

Growing up, her household valued education deeply. However, Pokimane would find her own path — one that no traditional degree could have predicted.

McMaster University: The Degree She Left Behind

She pursued a degree in chemical engineering at McMaster University. However, her passion for gaming and content creation grew stronger with every passing semester. Eventually, she made the bold decision to drop out and commit fully to streaming.

That gamble paid off in ways no engineering degree could have promised.

Career: From League of Legends to Global Icon

The Beginning: Twitch (2013)

Pokimane started streaming on Twitch in 2013, initially playing League of Legends.

She developed a passion for video games during childhood. This early love for gaming laid the foundation for her online persona, Pokimane. She honed skills in wit, strategy, and community-building through gaming.

She later expanded her content to include Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft, and Among Us. Therefore, her appeal was never limited to one game. It was always rooted in her personality and her authentic connection with her audience.

YouTube Channel (2014)

Anys made her YouTube channel in 2014. This allowed her to grow beyond live streaming. She created highlights, vlogs, and collaborative videos. Consequently, her reach expanded far beyond the Twitch ecosystem.

Co-Founding OfflineTV (2017)

In 2017, Pokimane made a move that would define not just her career — but an entire era of streaming culture.

She became the co-founder of an online social entertainment group called OfflineTV in 2017.

Pokimane said that living with other streamers helps them keep each other company and create good content. OfflineTV became the blueprint for creator collectives worldwide. It produced some of the most watched collaborative content in streaming history.

Hollywood: Free Guy (2021)

In 2021, she made a cameo appearance in the film Free Guy, starring Ryan Reynolds, further cementing her status as a mainstream media personality.

This was a landmark moment. She crossed over from digital culture into Hollywood itself. Additionally, she appeared in In Space with Markiplier: Part 1 (2022), voicing the Cryo Computer.

Forbes 30 Under 30 (2021)

In 2021, Forbes magazine included Pokimane in their “30 Under 30” list for “Games.” They noted she was the biggest female streamer on Twitch and a founder of OfflineTV.

This recognition placed her among the most impactful young entrepreneurs in the gaming industry globally.

RTS: Chief Creative Officer (2021)

In October 2021, Pokimane helped start a company called RTS. This company helps manage talent and advises brands. She worked there as Chief Creative Officer.

She later sold her stake in RTS because she “wanted to get managers that were in another industry.” She explained she made “at least six figures” from the sale.

Cloak: Fashion for Gamers

She joined Cloak, a fashion brand developed by Markiplier and Jacksepticeye, as both partner and creative director. This collaboration blended gaming culture with streetwear aesthetics. It brought Pokimane into the fashion space with two of YouTube’s most beloved creators.

The Twitch Era Ends: A New Chapter Begins (2024)

Leaving Twitch After a Decade

On January 31, 2024, Pokimane took the internet by storm after indicating her departure from Twitch. In a social media post on X, she stated that the Amazon-owned platform had been her “home for a decade” but that it was now “the end of an era.”

She left behind a staggering legacy. She was one of the most recognizable figures in the livestreaming industry, having joined Twitch in 2013.

Why She Left

In a podcast episode, she said that she’d probably still be streaming on Twitch if it weren’t for a rise in “manosphere, red pill bullshit” she saw coming from some of the “most popular and well-established, typically male creators” in the past couple of years.

“Some of the stuff I see them say and do breaks my heart,” said Pokimane. Therefore, her departure was not just strategic. It was principled.

Shifting to YouTube and Short-Form Content

After leaving Twitch, she planned to focus on short-form video platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok. She embraced a new creative model. She built a more flexible content strategy. She refused to be tied to one platform again.

Myna Snacks: The Business Lesson

Launching a Cookie Brand (November 2023)

On November 13, 2023, Pokimane launched her own company called Myna. It sold “healthy snack alternative” cookies.

Myna’s debut product, Midnight Mini Cookies, was advertised as gluten-free, GMO-free, and a “good source of Vitamin D.” The launch attracted attention due to its pricing — $28 for four 4oz bags.

The Backlash and Her Response

The pricing sparked controversy across social media. However, Pokimane was transparent about it.

“We sold them for $28 for four bags. The reason we did that was that we are a startup and even at that price point, we were not making money. As a startup, you don’t expect money for years. You’re just hoping you are building something cool enough that maybe it will pay off in 10 years,” she explained on the Just Trish Podcast.

Stepping Back (April 2026)

In a video shared on April 1, 2026, Pokimane addressed the situation, stating that the business was likely “winding down” and outlining her reasons for stepping away. She said, “Unfortunately, the launch for that did not go as we planned.”

Despite the outcome, Pokimane handled it with candor. She treated it as a public learning moment — and her audience respected her for it.

Podcasting: Finding Her Voice Off-Screen

Don’t Tell Anyone (December 2023 – June 2024)

On December 12, 2023, Pokimane started her first podcast called Don’t Tell Anyone.

The podcast consisted of her talking about various topics every week for several months. It eventually ended in June 2024. She later explained the reason simply: “I did that for a season, and honestly, at some point, it’s just like ‘I ain’t got more to say.'”

Sweet n Sour With LilyPichu (September 2024 – April 2026)

Pokimane and LilyPichu teamed up and started the Sweet n Sour podcast on September 13, 2024, on Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Audible.

The podcast was built around the duo’s contrasting personalities — Pokimane as the “sweet” one and LilyPichu as the “sour” one — covering their lives, pop culture, and internet drama.

Over its run, the show generated 57 million views and 4 million hours of watch time across 76 hours of recorded content. That is an extraordinary achievement for an independent creator podcast.

However, on April 25, 2026, Pokimane and LilyPichu officially shut down the Sweet n Sour podcast after two years.

Awards and Recognition

Pokimane’s impact on streaming culture has been recognized across the industry. Her key achievements include:

• Shorty Award for Best Twitch Streamer
• Forbes 30 Under 30 — “Games” category (2021)
• Legacy Streamer Award at The Streamer Awards (2022), presented by QTCinderella
• Samsung Galaxy Unpacked — Featured at the January 2024 event to showcase new gaming features on Galaxy S24 phones
• Co-hosted a livestream with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders alongside Valkyrae in October 2024

Personal Life: Private, Grounded, and Authentic

Relationship Status

Pokimane has always been private about her romantic life. As of December 2025, she is not married. She has spoken openly about personal experiences on her podcasts. However, she has consistently drawn a line between what she shares and what she keeps for herself.

Her Pets

She has two cats named Mimi and Beau. Her cats have made regular appearances in her content and remain beloved figures among her fanbase.

Current Location

She currently lives in Los Angeles, USA.

Languages

Pokimane is trilingual. She can chat in Darija, French, and English without breaking a sweat. This multilingual ability reflects her rich multicultural upbringing and has helped her connect with fans across the world.

Social Media at a Glance

Platform	Handle	Following
Twitch	@pokimane	9.3 million+
YouTube	Pokimane	6.62 million+
Instagram	@pokimane	Active
TikTok	@pokimane	Active
X (Twitter)	@imane	Active