Imane Anys, professionally recognized as Pokimane, is a prominent internet personality of Moroccan-Canadian descent. She is widely recognized for her engaging live streams on platforms like Twitch, where she showcases her gameplay, particularly in titles such as League of Legends and Fortnite. Beyond gaming, Pokimane extends her online presence to platforms such as YouTube, where she shares a diverse range of content encompassing vlogs, podcasts, and collaborations.
May 1996: Birth of Imane Anys
Imane Anys, better known as Pokimane, was born in Morocco in May 1996.
May 1996: Early Life and Family Background
After Imane Anys' birth in May 1996, her family relocated to Quebec, Canada. Anys spent her childhood in St. Catharines, Ontario, where her passion for gaming was ignited by her older brother, Mo.
June 2013: Twitch Debut
Imane Anys joined the Twitch platform in June 2013, marking the beginning of her streaming journey.
2017: Twitch Recognition and Shorty Award
Pokimane's Twitch channel experienced a surge in popularity in 2017, amassing a large following and earning her the title of Best Twitch Streamer at the Shorty Awards.
July 2018: Twitch Partnership and Ambassador Role
Pokimane was chosen as a Twitch ambassador for TwitchCon 2018, highlighting her prominent role on the platform.
2018: Fortnite Collaboration and E3 Event
Pokimane partnered with Epic Games for Fortnite streams and participated in a pro-am event at E3 2018, showcasing her growing influence in the gaming community.
March 2019: Shift in Content Strategy
In March 2019, Pokimane addressed her decrease in Fortnite streams, expressing a need to re-evaluate her content choices and direction.
October 2019: Casting in "Free Guy"
In October 2019, news broke about Pokimane's involvement in the film "Free Guy," directed by Shawn Levy.
March 2020: Twitch Exclusivity Agreement
Solidifying her commitment to Twitch, Pokimane signed a multi-year exclusivity deal with the platform in March 2020.
October 2020: Political Activism Through Gaming
Pokimane participated in an Among Us stream with U.S. representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, using her platform to encourage voter turnout in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
July 2021: Forbes 30 Under 30 Recognition
In recognition of her achievements as a streamer and entrepreneur, Pokimane was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 in the "Games" category in July 2021.
August 2021: Release of "Free Guy" and Appearance in Music Video
August 2021 marked the release of "Free Guy," featuring Pokimane. She also made an appearance in Bella Poarch's music video for "Inferno" that same month.
October 2021: Co-founding of RTS Talent Management Firm
Pokimane took on a new role as Chief Creative Officer of RTS, a talent management and brand consulting firm she co-founded in October 2021.
December 2021: Top 10 Most Followed Twitch User
By December 2021, Pokimane had become one of the top 10 most-followed users on Twitch, as per Social Blade's rankings.
2021: Launch of Personal YouTube Channel, "imane"
Expanding her online presence, Pokimane launched a new YouTube channel called "imane" in 2021, focusing on personal content and vlogs.
January 2022: Twitch Suspension and Stream Raid Controversy
Pokimane faced a 48-hour Twitch suspension due to a DMCA claim and was later subjected to a stream raid, sparking controversy within the streaming community.
February 2022: Twitch Contract Renewal
Reaffirming her partnership with Twitch, Pokimane re-signed with the platform in February 2022.
November 2023: Launch of Myna Healthy Snack Company and Price Criticism
Pokimane launched Myna, a company selling healthy snack cookies, in November 2023, but faced criticism for the pricing of the products.
December 2023: Launch of "Don't Tell Anyone" Podcast
Pokimane stepped into the world of podcasting with the launch of her first podcast, "Don't Tell Anyone," in December 2023.
January 2024: Announcement to Stop Streaming on Twitch
Pokimane announced her decision to stop streaming on Twitch in January 2024, citing dissatisfaction with the platform's changes.