What Neekolul Looks Like Without Makeup

Popular streamer Neekolul surprised fans a while back by revealing what she looks like without makeup. Neekolul posted two selfies of herself on Twitter, commenting, "Some no makeup selfies to scare [you] today." In the photos, Neekolul sits in her car, her expression blank and restful. While it may seem like a small thing, Neekolul's picture took a good deal of bravery.

Gamers know Neekolul from her successful Twitch channel, and from her popularity as one of the first people to create a meme from "Oki Doki Boomer" by Sanzawa. Neekolul went from relative obscurity to internet fame rapidly, and she quickly gained sponsors and viewers. Many of Neekolul's viewers come from the social media platform TikTok, indicating a possible shift in how gamers are able to find new streamers. Neekolul is now a Twitch partner with a massive fanbase. She's bilingual, and streams in both English and Spanish, widening her potential audience even more. 

Fans are often curious to know what their favorite streamers look like without makeup, and Neekolul is no exception. In reality, fans have criticized Neekolul for a variety of physical details, including her makeup. Neekolul posted on Twitter in response to her trolls, making fun of the kinds of people who criticize her for wearing "too much" makeup, including her signature sunburnt blush look.

Neekolul attempts to walk a fine line, much like many female streamers on the internet. Her fanbase has waxed and waned throughout her career, especially after she mentioned she had a boyfriend. After revealing that she was dating someone, Neekolul lost 65,000 followers in 48 hours. 

Gita Jackson for Vice has pleaded for viewers to consider how women have been asked to change themselves to be sexier for those that wish to objectify them. Using Neekolul as an example, Jackson walked readers through the history of the sexualization of young girls and concluded by comparing Neekolul to pop stars like Britney Spears. Ultimately, Neekolul — and any number of well meaning fans and journalists — can't stop others from sexualizing her online, but small acts (like sharing makeup-less selfies) can work to destigmatize the female body online. 

It seems that no matter what some streamers do, they're subject to criticism from fans and haters alike. In fact, harassment has been a recurring issue for many streamers than their male counterparts. Neekolul's vulnerability in showing her face without makeup, talking about her body, and discussing her personal life seems to be an attempt to connect with her fans in a more intimate way, hopefully improving their bond and making her success long lasting.

Even two years after Neekolul found fame online, she's still making the most of her success, no matter what anyone else thinks. On June 23, she celebrated 100,000 followers on her alternate Twitter account, a number that barely touches the over 700,000 she enjoys on her main account. Neekolul may have gained an audience after dancing on TikTok while wearing a shirt supporting Bernie Sanders — who was running for a presidential nomination at the time — but she hasn't stopped talking about politics now that she's blown up. She voiced her displeasure over the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade on both of her Twitter accounts, writing that she doesn't care what her own father wants her to do, much less "Our Father who art Heaven." On her main account, she said the Supreme Court was too old to make decisions for younger women of reproductive age. 

Of course, Neekolul is still sharing plenty of pictures of herself online, too — though not many feature her sans-makeup. She recently shared an image of herself from when she was 17, makeupless and looking surprised, alongside a photo of her boyfriend when he was in high school. Neekolul supposed that even though her boyfriend thinks the pair would still be interested in each other if they were both in high school, they may not have because she felt like a total nerd. Now, though, the two are happy and sharing their relationship online with fans.

Neekolul also shared a picture of herself at 16, lamenting the fact that she had longer, healthier hair at that age. No matter how old she is, or how much makeup she's wearing, Neekolul's urge to stand up for others and embrace inner — as well as outer — beauty still makes her stand out from the pack of streamers.