Gamer and Tech Reviewer Aliesha: My Advice For Girls Wanting to Get Into Gaming

It’s quite easy to immediately think of men when we picture a gamer. It’s considered to be a male-dominated industry, and gaming has always been synonymous with men. But it’s time to dispel myths, as the reality is: women over the age of 18 make up 47 per cent of Australia’s adult gamers. 

However, it’s not easy for women to break into the gaming space, despite so many having a natural knack for it. But while it’s difficult, it’s not impossible and one person who has proven that is Aliesha, otherwise known as Liessshy on Instagram and Twitch. The Aussie tech reviewer and gamer has a following of over 30,000 followers on Instagram and has attracted the attention of major brands such as JBL. She was around five years old when she was introduced to gaming, and she’s never looked back since.

“I was lucky enough to be born to parents who owned a Playstation 1, a Super Nintendo and an original Gameboy so it was a given that I would eventually pick up the controllers and play with them,” she told POPSUGAR Australia. 

Her childhood hobby turned into a full-fledged career after she completed high school, working at a video game retailer and eventually being promoted to a leadership position which allowed her to educate customers about video games. It was then that she came up with her online persona, Liessshy.

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A post shared by Aliesha (@liessshy)

“I started to think about sharing my passion and education online because if I was influential enough to showcase these qualities in a retail store, I was sure I could be influential online in sharing the same knowledge and passion,” she said. “It’s been a long journey becoming a woman in gaming online, but I am proud to be where I am.”

Her journey hasn’t been without its fair share of hurdles, with many claiming she’s not a “real gamer” simply because she’s a woman.

“I felt this in the workplace as well as online. I felt like no matter what, the initial impression people got from me was a thought of, ‘she doesn’t know what she’s talking about because she is a woman.’

“It took a lot of ice-breaking with customers and some people online to prove that I know my stuff and my passion is one driven from the heart, not for attention.”

Thankfully, she didn’t let the idle talk affect her and went on to pave a successful career for herself within the industry. After solidifying her presence on social media, Aliesha began to receive paid opportunities from major brands, turning her hobby into a full-time job.

When it comes to other women wanting to make it in the industry, Aliesha loves to see it, and truly believes in the mantra of “women supporting women”, which is why she’s always ready to lend out a helping hand.

“The best piece of advice I can give is to stay confident within yourself and be genuine. Build a tough wall that can block out and ignore what negativity people will say to you online. Confidence shines through and it sells,” she said. “People love someone who is proud and passionate about what they love. In turn, people will join you on your journey and become your audience and community. I love following fellow females in the industry who I can see are super proud of their work and love of gaming.”

It hasn’t always been easy, but women like Aliesha are shattering the glass ceiling and showing the gaming world that women have no bounds.

To keep up with Aliesha, follow her on Instagram and Twitch.