Esports Illustrated Announced as Official Media Partner
Raidiant, the leading broadcast provider dedicated to fostering opportunities for women in gaming, and Ally, the nation’s largest all-digital bank, unveil the highly anticipated “Influential Voices in Gaming” list. Esports Illustrated, the preeminent publication covering esports and gaming culture, joins as the official media partner for this new initiative.
The list celebrates individuals across various categories, including Creators, Pro Esports Players, Journalists, Gaming Executives, Artists, and On-Camera Talent. This initiative aims to spotlight the remarkable contributions of these individuals and their profound impact on shaping the gaming landscape.
The selection process for the list commenced with an online nomination phase, inviting the gaming community to nominate candidates who have left an indelible mark on the industry. Subsequently, a panel of esteemed industry experts conducted a thorough review, culminating in the curation of a distinguished list of 30 honorees.
The list of honorees includes:
● Melanie “meL” Capone, the in-game leader of the esports team Shopify Rebellion, and previous lead for Cloud9 White. Under meL’s leadership, her teams have continually been regarded as the best Game Changers rosters in VALORANT history. meL has earned nearly $100,000 in individual prize money and most recently won the VALORANT Game Changers Championship 2023.
● Jennifer “LemonKiwi” Pichette is a versatile esports caster. LemonKiwi has been booked on the talent line-ups for numerous esports titles including Rocket League, Overwatch, VALORANT, and Teamfight Tactics.
● Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez is an esports personality known for his ability to light up the stage. He has served as the desk host and on-stage host for many of esports’ premier events across Call of Duty, Halo, Overwatch, Apex Legends, and VALORANT.
● Amira “Xmiramira” Virgil is the creator of the Melanin Pack and founder of The Black Simmer community. With over 150,000 subscribers across platforms, Xmiramira advocates for diversity and empowers women gamers in the industry.
Heather Garozzo, the founder of Raidiant, stated, “We are proud to amplify the voices of the most influential names in esports, whether in front of the camera, behind the camera or operating the camera. We asked our community, and they answered by spotlighting the talented individuals that impacted our diverse audience the most.”
Echoing these sentiments, Bridget Sponsky, executive director of brand and sponsorship marketing at Ally, noted, “Celebrating the achievements of the diverse community in the industry is a reflection of the work we are doing to elevate key voices in gaming.”
Meredith Wilson, the Marketing Manager for Esports Illustrated, added, “Esports Illustrated is thrilled to collaborate with Raidiant and Ally to amplify the stories of these strong, and influential figures in the industry. We look forward to sharing their stories and impact with our audience.”
