Here’s the long-form article, written in the GeekExtreme Tech/Developer voice. It’s a deep dive that uses the earnings data to challenge the “gamer babe” label, with a conversational, curious tone.
You’ve heard the term “gamer babe” thrown around. Maybe it’s a fan calling a pro player that, a team marketing a “female esports” squad, or a streamer adopting the label for clout. It sounds harmless — even complimentary, on the surface. But the more I looked at the actual women competing at the highest level, the more that label started to feel like a weird costume someone else picked out. It’s a term that frames the player through the observer’s gaze, not through the hours of practice, the tournament wins, or the prize money they’ve banked.
So I went digging into the earnings data. Esportsearnings.com tracks prize money for competitive gamers, and the numbers tell a more interesting story than any label ever could. Let’s break down what the “gamer babe in esports” really means — and why the women who actually earn those checks have already rendered the term obsolete.
Key Takeaways
The top-earning female esports player, Scarlett, has earned over $472,000 in prize money, with 99% of that coming from a single game: StarCraft II.
More than three-quarters of women who play online hide their gender in voice chat, and 59% have faced harassment — a direct barrier to entry that helps explain the “gamer” identity gap.
The highest-earning female players are extreme specialists: many (like Liooon, alexis, and meL) pull 100% of their tournament earnings from one game, proving that deep skill, not just “gamer babe” visibility, drives success.
Table of Contents
What Does “Gamer Babe” Actually Mean?
Here’s a fact that stopped me: 47% of all people who play video games are women, but only 33% of women who play regularly identify as “gamers.” That’s from a 2022 study by Bryter, and it’s a gap. The term “gamer” carries baggage — it’s been gatekept, weaponized, and tied to a certain hardcore identity. Add “babe” to it and you get a label that’s even more loaded, especially when you consider that the average U.S. gamer is a 35-year-old adult with 17 years of established experience, according to a 2023 Entertainment Software Association report how to spot a gamer.
In esports, “gamer babe” gets used in a few ways. Fans toss it at female pros as a compliment, sometimes without realizing it reduces their skill to their appearance. Teams create “esports babe” squads — essentially mascot rosters that are more about brand appeal than competitive results. And media outlets use it as a clicky category, lumping serious competitors together with influencers and cosplayers. For example, when StarCraft II pro Scarlett was called a “gamer babe” in a fan tweet, she responded by pointing to her tournament record, saying, “Call me what you want, but I earned that trophy.”
The result? The label trivializes the thing that makes these players impressive: their ability to outplay the competition. And it’s a label that’s almost always applied from the outside, rarely one the players choose for themselves.
The Reality of Competing as a Woman in Esports
Before we get into the earnings list, you need to understand the context these women operate in. According to a 2020 study, 59% of women have faced online harassment, gamedesigning.org study of 1,200 respondents. 77% of women hide their gender in voice chat to avoid the abuse. That’s a barrier that male players never have to think about.
The stigma of inferior skills adds another layer. Women in competitive games are often assumed to be worse, regardless of their rank. So you’ve got a double bind: if you speak up, you risk harassment; if you stay silent, you’re invisible. That’s why all-female leagues and tournaments exist — they’re a protective response to an environment that can be openly hostile.
This isn’t just a “people are mean on the internet” problem. It’s a barrier to entry that directly affects who gets to compete and who gets to be seen. The “gamer babe” label is part of that system — it’s a way to acknowledge a woman’s presence in gaming without taking her seriously.
Top Female Earners: The Numbers Don’t Lie
With that context, let’s look at the actual prize money. The top three earners on the women’s list are all specialists:
- Scarlett (Sasha Hostyn) — $472,158, 99% from StarCraft II
- Liooon (Xiaomeng Li) — $241,490, 99% from Hearthstone
- alexis (Alexis Guarrera) and meL (Melanie Capone) tied at $131,136, both 100% from VALORANT
The pattern: the highest earners didn’t spread themselves thin. They picked one game, mastered it, and dominated. Prize money is only a proxy for competitive success — streaming and sponsorships aren’t reflected here, but it’s the cleanest metric we have for who wins at the highest level.
Now let’s go game by game. The contrast between specialists and diversifiers is sharp: players like alexis and meL earn 100% of their prize money from a single game, while diversifiers like Pokimane, Hafu, and xchocobars spread their earnings across multiple titles and content platforms, often with lower tournament totals.
StarCraft II & Strategy Games
StarCraft II dominates the top of the women’s earnings list, and Scarlett is the clear queen. The Canadian player for Shopify Rebellion earned the nickname “Korean Kryptonite” for beating South Korean champions like sOs and Stats. Her biggest win? IEM PyeongChang in February 2018, where she was the only female participant among 16 players.
She defeated two-time world champion sOs 4-1 in the final, winning $18,000. That’s not a “gamer babe” moment — that’s an upset.
Scarlett is also transgender, which makes her story significant. She’s been a top competitor in StarCraft II since 2011. Her 99% earning share from StarCraft II shows how deep her specialization goes.
Also in the strategy category: Liooon (Hearthstone, $241k, 99%) and Nina (StarCraft II, $95k, 99.58%). These players are all about one game, one set of skills, and practice.
VALORANT Powerhouses
VALORANT is relatively new, but it’s already producing the highest concentration of specialists at the top of the women’s earnings list. alexis and meL are tied at $131k, both from VALORANT. Then florescent ($95k, 100%), Noia ($94k, 100%), Sarah ($93k, 100%), and bENITA ($84k, 46% — one of the few with a diversified portfolio).
What’s interesting about VALORANT is that the women’s scene is still developing, but these players are claiming space early. They’re not waiting for the label to be applied — they’re winning tournaments and building careers.
CS:GO and Counter-Strike Veterans
Counter-Strike has the deepest bench of veteran female players. vilga ($127k, 88% from CS:GO, 17 tournament wins since 2015) is the highest-earning Russian female player. Then juliano ($102k, 48%), zAAz ($91k, 51%), potter ($35k, 50%), and Ant1ka ($44k, 100%).
The pattern here is longevity. Many of these women have been competing for a decade-plus, building reputations across multiple teams and tournaments. Their skill is proven over time, not through a clip.
Fortnite and Battle Royale Stars
Battle royale games span both PC and mobile, and the global spread is visible in players like Moxie ($79k, 100% Fortnite) and Shinoa ($90k, 100% Mobile Legends). Moxie ($79k, 100% Fortnite), Sommerset ($77k, 100%), and xchocobars ($60k, 47% — diversified) lead the PC side. On mobile, Shinoa ($90k, 100% Mobile Legends) and Alice ($80k, 100% PUBG Mobile) show that the esports world isn’t just about PC gaming — it’s global, and the rise of gamer babe merchandise reflects this expanding audience.
Chess and Strategy
Esports includes chess. Yes, really. yifan0227 (Hou Yifan) has earned $87k, 97% from Chess.com. KaterynaLagno has $52k, 92%. Female grandmasters have been competing for centuries, but now they’re doing it online with prize money. It broadens the definition of who “counts” as an esports player.
Fighting Game Legends and Transgender Pioneers
Some of the most groundbreaking players in esports are transgender women. Their stories are often glossed over, but they’re central to the history of competitive gaming.
Ricki Ortiz has competed in 61 fighting game tournaments. She first gained prominence at Evolution Championship Series 2003 in Marvel vs. Capcom 2, placing 5th, and her biggest prize came at Capcom Cup 2016, where she placed second and won $30,000. She’s been a top competitor for over two decades.
Maria “Remilia” Creveling was the first woman and the first transgender person to play in the NA LCS (League of Legends). She was known for her support play. In November 2019, she tweeted: “When I lose confidence in myself, they believe in me and it makes me cry. Thank you guys.”
She died in her sleep later that month at age 24. Her legacy is a reminder that the path for women in esports wasn’t gradual — it was marked by singular individuals like Remilia breaking barriers, often facing both gender and identity discrimination.
Geguri (Kim Se-yeon) was the first female player in the Overwatch League, playing for the Shanghai Dragons. She was known for her Zarya play. Her earnings are 100% from Overwatch.
These players didn’t just overcome the “gamer babe” label — they broke through the structural barriers entirely.
Beyond the Player: Women Leading in Media and Management
The “gamer babe” label also ignores the women who shape esports from outside the competition. Some of the most influential figures are hosts, casters, and executives.
Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere has hosted the League of Legends World Championship and the LEC for years. She has a master’s degree from Ghent University and has won Best Esports Host every year since 2017. She began her career as an esports journalist.
Jorien “Sheever” van der Heijden has been a Dota 2 caster since 2012. She received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2017. She continued working during chemotherapy, attending events between sessions. She’s been cancer-free since January 2020, about two and a half years.
As she put it, Between starting and ending chemo, I did go to events. Thinking back, that was crazy, but I’m a workaholic at heart.
Tricia “megumixbear” Sugita was the CEO of FlyQuest and is now the COO of Cloud9 (since 2022). Under her leadership, FlyQuest was among the first esports organizations to support Black Lives Matter and launched a tree-planting pledge. She’s an example of how game knowledge translates into executive leadership.
How to Get Started as a Female Esports Player
If you’re reading this and thinking, Okay, I want to be on that list, here’s the path. The data shows that specialization works. Pick one game and commit to it. The top earners all went deep on a single title.
Start by joining online tournaments and amateur leagues. Build a presence on Twitch or YouTube — to network and get your name out. Communities like r/GirlGamers can help you find teammates and avoid the worst of the harassment.
Every pro started as a beginner. The players on this list didn’t get there by being “gamer babes.” They got there by grinding, losing, and coming back stronger.
Beyond the Label
So what’s the verdict on the “gamer babe” label? After looking at the data, the stories, and the historic firsts, the label doesn’t fit. It’s a snapshot from the outside, not the reality of what these women have achieved.
The Bryter stat from the opening — the gap between participation and self-identification, shows that the label is part of the problem. It makes women in gaming feel they don’t belong in the term “gamer” itself.
But the players on this list render that label obsolete. Scarlett is the most famous female pro. Liooon won a Hearthstone world championship. Remilia broke a barrier that still hasn’t been replicated. And Hamako Mori — the “Gamer Grandma”, is the oldest recognized female gamer, proving that the love for competition doesn’t age out.
The label fades. The player remains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gamer babe?
It’s a label applied to women in gaming that frames them through appearance rather than skill. The term is almost always used by outsiders — fans, teams, or media — and it tends to trivialize competitive achievements by reducing a player to a stereotype.
What is a female gamer called?
Most women who compete professionally prefer to be called players or pros, not ‘gamer babes’ or ‘female gamers.’ The term ‘gamer’ itself is already gender-neutral, though only 33% of women who play regularly identify with it due to gatekeeping and harassment in gaming culture.
Why do women hide their gender in online games?
More than three-quarters of women who play online hide their gender in voice chat to avoid harassment, and 59% have faced abuse directly. This creates a barrier to entry that male players never have to think about, and it’s a major reason why all-female leagues and tournaments exist as a protective space.
