Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Mei-Li.
Hi Emma, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my journey as a content creator back in 2020 during COVID. At the time, I was a third-year college student studying Cognitive Science at USC. Since everything had moved online, I suddenly had way too much time on my hands. As an extrovert, I was also desperately craving social interaction.
My ex back then was a professional League of Legends player who also streamed on Twitch. I wasn’t really familiar with the platform and had never used it, but I used to joke that if I couldn’t land a job after college, I’d become a streamer instead (and well… guess what happened, haha! Though I guess it was voluntary).
One day, I was hanging out in my partner’s live chat, answering questions and relaying messages to him. Then it hit me: “I should just do this myself. Heck, I think I could be even better at talking to people!” No shade to my ex—he was just super focused on the game and didn’t really engage much with the chat. However he was kind enough to lend me a webcam, and a friend gave me an old microphone. The rest is history.
I started streaming League of Legends on Twitch too, but eventually branched out into the “Just Chatting” section. I’d talk about everything from mental health and college life to hippos and whatever else was on my mind. I named my community “The Bloat Squad” because of my love for hippos—a “bloat” is the name for a group of hippos, but also felt fitting since I’m extremely lactose intolerant and perpetually bloated.
One of my viewers even donated a keyboard to me. I had grown up playing piano but had fallen out of love with it—streaming helped me rediscover that passion by sharing music with strangers from all over the world. Over time, I became a bit of a “variety” streamer: chatting, gaming, music, and even workout streams.
After graduating in 2022, I went full-time into content creation. I joined the creator-friendly platform Fanhouse (later acquired by Passes) to support myself financially, since I quickly realized streaming alone wasn’t sustainable. I posted cosplay pics, behind-the-scenes content, selfies, and more. That extra income allowed me to move out of my parents’ house in LA within a year of graduating.
I stayed close to home, still near my parents and in my hometown, but over time, the grind began to wear me down. I was streaming late into the night—starting around 8pm and sometimes going until 3am—waking up late, and repeating the same cycle. I wasn’t taking care of myself, physically or mentally, and eventually burned out.
I hit a point where I felt like I was just going through the motions. I started posting more “thirst-trap” content because it got views—but it didn’t feel fulfilling, and I wasn’t proud of it.
By December 2024, I seriously considered quitting content creation altogether. I was barely streaming, barely posting, and felt completely lost—in my career, in my relationships, and in what I wanted out of life. From the outside, it might’ve looked like I was living the dream, but I felt like a fraud. I often said I wished I could give my life to someone else—or just magically “plop” someone else’s consciousness into my brain to take over.
After a tough breakup at the beginning of the year, I hit what felt like rock bottom. I was lost, deeply unhappy, and didn’t want to exist. Mental health had always been something I talked about openly on stream, but I couldn’t even bring myself to turn on the camera anymore.
The thing about rock bottom, though, is that there’s nowhere to go but up. I don’t remember exactly when, but at some point after all the sadness, I decided I was done. Done being sad, done settling for a life that didn’t feel meaningful, done chasing validation through content I didn’t feel aligned with. I wanted to create things I was actually proud of.
I started working out consistently for the first time. I taught myself how to cook—something I’d always wanted to learn. I quit drinking. I started reading and listening to self-development podcasts (shoutout to Mel Robbins!). I started rebuilding myself from the ground up, creating a version of me that I was genuinely proud of.
Then, I started sharing it online. I posted about my fitness journey, my cooking, and little lifestyle changes. The response was overwhelmingly positive. People told me I was inspiring them to eat better, move more, and take care of themselves. They shared their own stories with me too.
Fitness had always been something I loved, but I never thought I was “qualified” enough to make it a career. But I realized—I’ll never feel completely ready for anything. If I kept waiting for someone or something to pull me out of my sadness, I’d be waiting forever.
So I started rebranding—online and in real life.
Now, I’m happier, healthier, and more in tune with myself than I’ve ever been. And the best part? I know this is just the beginning.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Throughout my content creation journey, one of the biggest challenges I faced was finding structure and routine in my life, and truly prioritizing myself and my health. For example, without a set schedule, I’d often stay up until 4 or 5 a.m. and sleep in until 2 or 3 p.m.
Being self-employed is something many people dream of—and honestly, I still think it’s amazing—but it also requires a level of self-discipline that I quickly realized I didn’t have. After spending most of my life in school with clear expectations and structure, suddenly being thrown into adulthood with complete freedom was overwhelming.
Over time, I’ve learned just how crucial routines, healthy habits, and structure are for both mental and physical well-being. I used to neglect basic things like eating and sleeping, but now they’re non-negotiables. I aim to eat 2–3 full meals a day (compared to my old 1–1.5 meals), and I prioritize getting 7–8 hours of sleep each night, ideally going to bed before 2 a.m.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m still actively creating content, though I’ve been streaming less on Twitch lately. My focus has shifted toward building my presence on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, and rebranding myself as a fitness and wellness creator rather than just a Twitch streamer or “gamer girl.”
I initially gained traction on Instagram because of my abs—which, oddly enough, became my unique selling point. I’ve leaned into that to help grow my platform, but I’ve also been exploring new ways to connect with my audience and bring real value to the world. My goal is to be a beacon of light—someone who radiates positivity and inspires others to become the best version of themselves, both mentally and physically.
I don’t think enough creators are vulnerable when it comes to mental health, and that’s something I care deeply about. I want to be a strong advocate not just for physical wellness, but for emotional and mental well-being, too. Wellness in every sense of the word.
What I’m most proud of is my resilience. Even after five years—half of which I spent feeling disconnected and lost—I’m still here, still going, and I have no intention of stopping. Life will throw punches, but it’s up to us to adapt and fight back.
How do you think about happiness?
My happiness comes from adding value to other people’s lives—whether that’s inspiring someone across the world to start working out, being there for a friend, or eventually being able to support my family. One of my biggest motivators is the dream of retiring my parents and sending them on an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe—or wherever they want to go. I want to give back to the people who’ve given so much to me.
But beyond that, I also want to give back to the world. Nothing would fulfill me more than knowing I left the world better than I found it. One of my long-term goals is to start a nonprofit—either focused on mental health or supporting adoptees and kids in the foster system, as someone who was adopted myself.
At the end of the day, I want to create a ripple effect—to know that my work, my story, and my efforts are helping improve millions of lives, even in small ways. That’s what would bring me real happiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emmameili.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma.meili/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaMeiLi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaMeiLi
- Other: http://twitch.tv/EmmaMeiLi
