‘The entire night radiated an atmosphere of hope’ – HerStory event by Black Twitch UK and Nox Lumina cements the power of women in esports
Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor
Last Updated: 19/06/2025
Photo credit: Charlotte Peers
Black Twitch UK and Nox Lumina hosted women in games event HerStory at London’s Red Bull Gaming Sphere last week, honouring Women’s History Month. Hannah Marie reports from the night.
Influential women spanning the esports and gaming industries gathered to discuss navigating their respective fields, breaking barriers and the overall value of diversity. Attendees included esports and gaming host Frankie Ward (recent host of the 2023 BAFTA Game Awards), Women in Esports manager Billie Purdie, and streamer/presenter Cyborg Angel.
Despite efforts to encourage diversity in esports, women are estimated to make up less than 1% of professional players and around 5% of the overall workforce. So for young girls seeking inspiration, a role model, perhaps, in esports and gaming, women in the scene must stand even taller to be seen among the crowd.
Standing tall was precisely the energy surrounding HerStory– one of pride, support and enthusiasm. The entire night radiated an atmosphere of hope.
Excited to be teaming up with @BlackTwitchUK at @redbullgaming Sphere to celebrate Women History Month on the front page @TwitchUKI tomorrow.
— Nox Lumina (@itsnoxlumina) March 22, 2023
For those not attending you can catch us live from 6pm on https://t.co/Be1JmSPFtS pic.twitter.com/AgOd7Ew4ar
Downstairs, away from the busy streets of Shoreditch, the Red Bull Gaming Sphere offered a haven for women to connect and celebrate their collective achievements.
However, accompanying the relaxed environment was a palatable drive to extend the opportunities available for gender minorities. Struggles, challenges and obstacles were acknowledged, but with an attitude of determination rather than defeat.
Navigating the journey to inclusivity – where are we falling short?
Among the crucial topics raised during HerStory was performance activism. As a buzzword circling in many male-dominated industries, performance activism is a classic tripwire for organisations to stumble onto, especially in tokenism.
Tokenism creates an illusion of equality. Where the phenomenon occurs, women or other marginalised groups are included with the condition that they remain confined within their role set by the dominant group and generally do not disrupt the status quo.
HerStory was the opposite of this – it celebrated the unique qualities that women bring to esports and gaming. It championed moving away from tokenism toward true inclusivity, where women are recognised for their talents and campaigns for a platform to display their worth.
✨️ Feeling inspired ✨️
— Creatively Anzy (@Anzy_aa) March 24, 2023
A huge thanks to @GeekyCassie & @Ebonix for inviting me to speak on one of the many panels at their IWD event with so many phenomenal women 👏🏾
Met some new old friends & even made some new connections. Thank you for creating this wonderful space ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TrNBcQDtXC
Time to tackle toxicity
Another hot topic in gaming and esports – toxicity – was discussed among attendees of Black Twitch UK and Nox Lumina’s HerStory evening. Studies show that women are less likely to engage in voice chats due to toxicity and harassment and are more likely to stop playing a game because the toxicity is overwhelming.
In particular, panellists Bryony-Hope Green from British Esports and Billie Purdie from the federation’s Women in Esports initiative (which recently announced a new manifesto) discussed how education, both within esports and beyond, impacts the issue.
Overall, changes in how we approach gendered conflict, such as shifting responsibility from women’s reactions to toxic individuals for their actions, would likely benefit esports and gaming scenes. Additionally, educating about toxicity at a younger age could also be influential.
“Black Twitch UK and Nox Lumina presented an inclusive, encouraging and positive environment where women, gender minorities and men alike could discuss what it really means to be a woman in gaming and esports.”
Final reflections on the HerStory event
The final panel of the night ended on a positive and uniting note, with an audience member reflecting on the experience provided by Black Twitch UK: “It reminds us of why we are doing what we are doing… it is the hope I was looking for.”
Plenty of time was left for networking, socialising and support between those attending, allowing new connections to be forged in the wake of the event.
Thank you to @GeekyCassie & @Ebonix for organising tonight at the @redbullgaming sphere
— Davina (@35p_Ramen) March 24, 2023
I can’t even explain what this evening did for me. Truly walked away remembering I’m a boss bad bih because of this @BlackTwitchUK event 🫶🏽
Love being a woman
Black Twitch UK and Nox Lumina presented an inclusive, encouraging and positive environment where women, gender minorities and men alike could discuss what it really means to be a woman in gaming and esports.
As women continue to grow in strength, boosted by community support, we can spotlight the talent that has worked so hard to be seen. The power of women in esports has been cemented – and the future of esports is bright!
Read more women in esports content on Esports News UK here
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Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor
Hannah is a journalist specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports, Apex Legends, and advocating for women's esports initiatives. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ALGS LANs, ESI London, EGX, and watch parties.
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