After she got laid off in 2020, 32-year-old professional animator Youna had an idea: start a Twitch channel and stream almost exclusively using a 3D avatar. She invested nearly all her savings and went $20,000 into depth to purchase a motion capture suit. The result? CodeMiko, a 3D character full of dry wit and dirty humor. Within a year, she became a hit sensation on Twitch. Now, almost two years into her success, she's trying to make VTubing—the act of livestreaming as a 3D model—more accessible with her company MikoVerse.

"I was like, this is the only chance I got because I got laid off already. If I did get another job, then it's gonna be the same thing over and over again. If I lose, if I don't make it, then fine, I'll get a job. I'll lose my tiny bit of savings that I have. I'll put myself in debt, but I have student debt anyway. I'll go get another job. But I was like I have to do it. I have to do it and see if I can make it. Otherwise, I think I'm going to just regret it and be the same state in the next job I get of like wishing I had tried."

You can follow CodeMiko here.

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