Pokimane No Makeup: The Moment That Sparked a Bigger Internet Conversation
If you’ve ever Googled “Pokimane no makeup”, you’re not alone. In a world where polished looks are expected of famous people, Pokimane, one of the most recognizable names in the streaming world, goes bare-faced. And the world noticed, in fact, it got them talking. It happened in 2018 when the Twitch streamer was sharing her makeup routine to viewers. There were mixed reactions, those praising her for being confident in her natural self and those putting her down for her looks. Let’s delve into who she is, her career, and the no-makeup that got people talking.
Who Is Pokimane, Really?
In case you don’t know already, Pokimane is named Imane Anys. She is a Moroccan-Canadian streamer, YouTuber, and internet personality. She was born on May 14, 1996, in Morocco, and later moved to Canada with her family when she was about four years old. Growing up in Ontario, she eventually started streaming video games while studying chemical engineering in university, until the point where she said, “You know what, this might actually be my thing.” And it was.
Pokimane’s Twitch channel has millions of followers, and she’s widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential female streamers in the world. She’s streamed League of Legends, Fortnite, Valorant, Among Us, Minecraft, and so many more. Not only that, she has a great way of connecting with viewers.
Moreover, she co-founded OfflineTV, a content group where creators collaborated on videos, streams, and projects that go beyond traditional gaming content. That move helped her visibility skyrocket even more.
There is no doubt that Pokimane is one of the most recognizable figures whose work has gone beyond gaming to the mainstream internet.
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Pokimane’s Career
How can Pokimane’s no-makeup look become the talk of the internet? How is she able to build all that clout?
Pokimane started streaming in 2013, and at that time, not many people were into it. A year later, she hit Platinum rank in League of Legends, which was huge at the time; she used that to grow her community on Twitch.
In 2017, she gained 450,000 followers on Twitch, enough to place her among the top 100 most-followed channels on the platform, which is a big deal if you get what Twitch growth looked like back then.
She didn’t stop there. Her content evolved. She joined forces with other creators, and she diversified her YouTube channels into gaming, vlogs, and even ASMR. She kept building a brand that was equal parts personality, gameplay, and just a connection with fans.
Along the way, she picked up partnerships, awards, and was even recognized by Forbes as one of the 30 Under 30. She later became the most-followed Twitch streamer in 2024.
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So What Happened With the “No Makeup” Thing?
On October 23, 2018, Pokimane did something that seems pretty simple: she streamed on Twitch without makeup. Just her natural face, no enhancements. And a viewer took a screenshot of that moment.
Suddenly, a snapshot of her natural look started floating around social media, which highlights the difference between her usual streaming look (with makeup) and this candid, real-life moment. Some people used it to make jokes about her appearance. Others tried to paint it as something misleading, like she was “tricking people” before. Some folks even started spreading memes about it.
And that’s when things got interesting.
Pokimane, on her part, didn’t ignore, but she replied. Pokimane took to social media and shared her own no-makeup selfies, with this caption:
“To conclude yesterday’s drama, here are some no make-up selfies, but from regular/cute angles and with natural lighting. No one looks good 24/7, and a lot of different things can affect someone’s appearance! We’re all only human, so let’s be kind to one another.
That tweet alone, with tens of thousands of likes, became a snapshot in itself of how modern culture deals with beauty standards and online personas. And she wasn’t done.
In February 2022, she reposted the original no-makeup image and added a caption:
“This face makes more money than you’ll ever see in your life, Pokimane (@pokimanelol)
She even responded to critics with a sentiment that went deeper than most people expected. In 2018, after some negative reactions, she said:
“Man, am I lucky to have real friends who love me for who I am. I’m at peace with myself, my body & my imperfections, and I wish the same someday for anyone who feels the need to hate on someone else for such shallow reasons.”
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Why This Became a Big Deal
At first glance, all of this might sound overblown, “It’s just a picture, right?”, but it became something more because it pulled at a bunch of deeper veins online:
People Project Unrealistic Expectations
Most creators you see online, especially in beauty-oriented spaces, don’t show their faces bare-faced unless it’s planned. There’s lighting, makeup, angles, filters, and all that jazz. So when someone shows their bare face, people react like it’s a big deal. That reaction says a lot about people’s high expectations of public figures, including their looks and how they are quick to raise eyebrows.
Some Folks Used It to Troll
Of course, the internet being the internet, some people used the image to mock her, or worse, to imply she’s “less attractive” without makeup. That says way more about them than it does about her.
You’ll still find comments from years ago trying to turn this into something negative, which is pretty typical of online culture.
But Many People Defended Her
When some people were being cruel, a lot more people stood up for her. Other streamers, friends, and fans said things like:
“She’s beautiful no matter what.”
“Stop judging people for how they look.”
Some even used the moment to remind others that real life isn’t a carefully curated photoshoot, that makeup is something people choose to use, not something that defines them.
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What This Says About Online Culture
Pokimane’s no-makeup moment went viral not because she looked bad but because people projected something onto it. They assumed makeup was the only reason anyone could look good. They assumed online personas are representations of reality. And when reality didn’t match those assumptions, there was a problem.
That’s a fascinating look at the internet age.
People want authenticity, but they also want the best version of everything. When those two things collide, things get messy.
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Key Takeaway
Pokimane’s no makeup was never really about makeup at all; it was about people’s perception of how things are supposed to be and the reality. She faced the moment head-on, with honesty, humor, and a few iconic tweets, letting people know that she’s human.
At the end of the day? She’s the same person whether with or without the glam. And the whole drama says a lot about how the internet is today.
