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Popular streamer ThePeachCobbler has made a name for herself in the Fortnite community as a wholesome content creator and competitive player. As a woman thriving in the gaming industry, she has become a role model for aspiring female gamers, showing that with talent and passion, anyone has the potential to get a big break in the gaming industry. Her contribution to the growth of women in esports has made her a relevant figure in the Fortnite competitive community.
Now, she’s gearing up for one of the most anticipated tournaments of 2024, Fortnite The Milk Cup. It is hosted by WOTE, GonnaNeedMilk, and ThePeachCobbler, and is dedicated to empowering female competitors by providing a safe and inclusive platform. It is set to take place on October 5, 2024, and features an attractive prize pool of $250,000, making it one of the largest prize pools in female esports history.
In this exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, ThePeachCobbler shares her excitement about Fortnite The Milk Cup and her journey leading up to it.
ThePeachCobbler opens up about Fortnite, The Milk Cup, and empowering women in esports
Q) First, thank you so much for taking the time for this interview. For those who might not know you, could you please introduce yourself?
ThePeachCobbler: Thank you for the opportunity! My name is ThePeachCobbler, I’m a NYC-based family-friendly Fortnite streamer, content creator, and tournament host.
Q) We all know that you’re a standout player in Fortnite. But when you are not playing Fortnite, what other games capture your interest?
ThePeachCobbler: I really love my cozy games! After I’m grinding on stream, I’ll get comfortable and pick up my Nintendo Switch to play Suika Game. I’m always open to trying a new game and I enjoy playing Lethal Company, Stardew Valley, and any Mario game, although Fortnite is by far my favorite.
Q) The Fortnite community is definitely excited about The Milk Cup Finals. Could we see you hosting tournaments for other titles in the future as well?
ThePeachCobbler: I have so much love for Fortnite, and I see endless potential for hosting both competitive and creative events for the game. That said, we’re always looking for ways to expand, create new opportunities, and we remain open to hearing what titles the community wants to see featured next. I’m excited to announce that there are more 'Gonna Need Milk' tournaments in the works after The Milk Cup!
Q) Your dedication and contribution to the growth of female esports is inspiring. What were some of the challenges you’ve faced while organizing such tournaments, and how did you overcome them?
ThePeachCobbler: The gaming community can be a tough space for women, with many facing harassment and exclusion in both esports tournaments and casual online play. The history of gaming has a shadow of inequality, and while I still encounter negativity and toxicity, I choose to channel that into something positive. Every event I host is thoughtfully curated, and my core mission is to create a space where fair play is celebrated and toxicity has no place.
Partnering with Gonna Need Milk has been a dream come true. We have a common vision, and The Milk Cup builds on Gonna Need Milk's ongoing commitment to recognizing and empowering women and girls in sports. This tournament offers the most significant opportunity to compete at the highest level in Fortnite, with the largest prize pool in North American women's esports history at $250,000.
Q) The competitive gaming community can be both incredibly supportive as well as over-critical. How has the community responded to The Milk Cup so far?
ThePeachCobbler: The response has been overwhelmingly positive throughout the space, with support from both men and women Fortnite content creators, streamers, and professionals. Women in particular are recognizing just how impactful The Milk Cup is in creating change. They are realizing that they’ve long been denied the visibility and recognition they deserve. We’re not even at the finals and women are getting picked up by top organizations because they’ve seen their gameplay.
We’ve had over 600 women participate in our qualifiers, with 33 Trios emerging victorious and heading to the LACC The Milk Cup Finals. The Milk Cup broke viewership records for professional women’s Fortnite with each successive qualifier with over 2 million views across three qualifiers - and looks to do so again with The Milk Cup Finals.
I've received incredible support from the community, and I’m truly grateful to be part of such a historic event.
Q) What long-term impact do you hope this event will have on the esports industry?
ThePeachCobbler: I hope that aspiring gamers out there see that we’re here to celebrate you and give you the spotlight you deserve. Women have been pushed aside for far too long, and we're all about changing that by creating a safe space and gaining more visibility in the gaming community.
We hope this tournament inspires other brands to step up and create more opportunities for women in gaming, and encourage more women and girls to participate in esports. To all the gaming peripheral companies, we hope you're paying attention.
There are women gamers out here, and we’re competing with equipment designed for men. It would be a huge leap forward to have controllers, mice, and other peripherals designed with women in mind.
Q) Duos have long been the go-to format in Fortnite tournaments, yet The Milk Cup has chosen to conduct a trios event. What was the reason behind opting for this format?
ThePeachCobbler: The format for The Milk Cup was decided in part by our community, and trios were a huge request from our gamers. When I teased the tournament, I actually asked the community what mode they wanted, and trios came up repeatedly. Since duos had been featured in FNCS, we wanted to offer something fresh and exciting for our player base—something they were truly eager to compete in.
Q) All the 33 qualified trios are undeniably deserving of their spot in the finals, are there any teams that have particularly caught your attention?
ThePeachCobbler: Team AlinaRose definitely caught my attention and surprised me the most. Velxen, in particular, is a player I hadn’t heard much about before, but her gameplay and mechanics are next-level. The fact that she’s performing at such a high caliber without her name being more widely recognized is wild to me.
That’s exactly why events like The Milk Cup are so important in giving women gamers the exposure they deserve—it’s a level playing field where every player competes in qualifiers to earn their spot. AlinaRose, CutieAma and Velxen make for an incredible team.
Team Moxie (Movie, Registta, Dieyuhs), Team Smylie (Smylie, Sophiaa, Marii), and Team FemaleClix (FemaleClix, Kanary, CeceNuggets) all won their respective qualifiers and undeniably earned their place in the finals. Every single player is outstanding, and we can’t wait to see who will claim victory.
Q) What do you think about the current state of Fortnite? What’s the one thing you absolutely love about Chapter 5 and one that you particularly don’t?
ThePeachCobbler: Fortnite is in a great place right now, and I honestly think this is their best year yet. They’ve been really listening to the community, building on the features we love, and delivering a more dynamic experience. I’ve especially been enjoying the shields, jetpacks, and the new Marvel skins, which add a fun, fresh twist to the game. Honestly, I don’t have any criticism for this season—it’s easily one of my favorites this year.
Q) Fortnite offers a wide variety of game modes these days. Do you find yourself leaning more towards Build Mode or Zero Build? And what are your thoughts on the recent addition of Fortnite Reload Mode?
ThePeachCobbler: The beauty of Fortnite is that it offers different modes for all kinds of players to enjoy. For The Milk Cup, we chose Build Mode, which will make for an exciting event since Builds adds a 3D element that’s both thrilling to watch and play. I also enjoy Zero Build for how it lowers the skill barrier and makes the game more accessible.
Reload mode is fast-paced and great for warming up, though its intensity can make it harder for streamers to engage with chat. Personally, I’ve been loving Reload, and with Epic announcing plans to expand its competitive side, I’m definitely sticking with it.
Q) Fortnite has such a vibrant community of pros and content creators. Who are some of your personal favorites that you enjoy watching or playing with?
ThePeachCobbler: The women’s Fortnite scene has the most vibrant personalities and talented individuals! I’m so grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside them, get to know them, and I can’t wait for us all to be in the same room at LAN, feeling the energy together.
I’ve loved watching all the competitors—while I have no personal favorites, I’ve especially enjoyed watching Maddynf. She was one of the first competitive Fortnite women players I came across, and her positive attitude really stands out. I’ve also loved watching Fraanticc, Moxie, Regs, Sommerset, among so many others.
They’re all incredibly skilled but also set a great example of how to compete fiercely without being toxic, which makes them such a refreshing presence in the community.
Q) Thank you so much for taking the time out to chat with us. Before we end the interview, is there anything you would like to tell aspiring female content creators/gamers?
ThePeachCobbler: The Milk Cup isn’t just a tournament, it’s where change starts. We’re here to celebrate you and give you the spotlight you deserve. Women have been put down for so long, and we’re all about changing that and creating a safe space. Come join us in tournaments and join the Discord community, we've got you covered!
Fortnite The Milk Cup will be played at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 5, 2024. This event is likely the last high-tier Fortnite tournament of 2024.
