ThatBronzeGirl: Explained

The Who, the What, and the Why You Should be Watching this Multi-faceted Streamer

“Is someone going to kill me over saying something you can Google? Hello mafia, please don’t kill me over something that is Google-able.”

These words are uttered just shortly after Jasmine “ThatBronzeGirl” Bhullar demurely sips from a coffee mug and delicately sweeps her hair from her face. Over her shoulder, is a curious audience member in the form of a pink Kirby peeping out at viewers from a bookshelf- this could be a green screen or some fabulous bokeh camera work.

It’s a Saturday afternoon, 4 pm on the dot in Chicago where I am and 2 pm where she is across the country in Washington. I tuned in as she was talking about the culture on Twitch versus TikTok, how women and girls are treated in these spaces — the misogynistic overtones and unrealistic beauty ideals present on the former, a slightly more laid-back and body positive atmosphere on the latter — and in stepping away to grab a fresh shirt out my drawer, I comeback to a conversation on NFTs and the concept of “owning” digital art. Right before my eyes, and ears, the conversation bounces over the value of physical art to conceptual ideas — Monet on a wall versus a Grimes piece in a digital vault— to “worth” of someone’s work be it a drawing by the acclaimed artist VoodooVal to a cup of coffee from Starbucks before finally crash landing on all things, breeding miniature ponies.

The Dungeon Master slash actress slash comic book aficionado somehow manages to maintain a facade of calm and quick wit as the topics chaotically pingpong as more viewers comment and join the stream. What started as a serious subject regarding property rights has now dwindled down into comedy as Bronze yo-yo’s between furiously googling pictures of Kheer — a traditional Indian pudding which she declares an intense passion for — and ambrosia — a polarizing jelly salad that she is rabidly defending against the opinions of commenters who deem it dumpster fire worthy. I am two, going on three hours, into this madness and only now do I ask myself, WTF did I stumble into?

If you are just as confused as I was and require a quick and dirty guide regarding Twitch and the whirlwind that is ThatBronzeGirl’s channel, you have been beamed to the right place.

The Who:

“ThatBronzeGirl” is the official Twitch, Instagram, and Twitter handle of Jasmine Bhullar. Bhullar herself is a multi-hyphenate actress-internet personality-content creator most known for her tabletop role playing and serving as Game Master for The Starter Kit for Vampire Masquerade. This Twitch Ambassador has made her name in the world of gaming and beyond with her insight into the lives and concerns of Indian Americans and her support of the LGBTQIA community.

The What:

Coincidentally, the morning I watched, Bronze was actually talking about her viewers. She mentioned how she has two types of watchers — people who tune in to just watch her chat in the morning and people who prefer watching her play videogames. Being new to Twitch it was interesting hearing her breakdown her viewership as she has been on Twitch for years and has witnessed firsthand the changes it has undergone (Reddit boasts archival footage of her playing that dates back to at least 2015, that’s over 6 years of streaming). Funfact: Before IRL was added to Twitch (which solely originated as a platform for game streaming), Bronze’s videos would get flagged for her extended chats where she would answer questions or share tidbits of her life before playing an actual videogame.

The Where:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TS2it4gPOg

ThatBronzeGirl has a rigorous filming schedule. You can catch her on Twitch six days a week, Monday-Saturday 8AM PST (11AM EST), where she streams a two hour talk-show (#ThatMorningShow) segment leading into her game streams which start at 10AM PST (1PM EST). If you are watching her for gaming, be aware that she does not play specific games on each day (for the most part). Don’t follow her expecting to see her crush it daily on Tom Clancy’s The Division when the reality is, she may have been in a Dungeons & Dragon type of mood that day — or week.

If you prefer a more focused programming, Wednesdays currently feature DnD Shikar dedicated streams (where she serves as Dungeon Master) which are also loaded onto YouTube.

The Why:

Why should you watch ThatBronzeGirl’s channel?

There’s something endearing about watching someone trash talk their own eyebrows mid gameplay after catching a glimpse of theirselves on camera. Or perhaps, it is hearing them lament and educate about the faux pas people make regarding Indian American culture.These moments of brutal self-honesty and raw reflection gives her channel a feeling reminiscent of an old and comfortable friend that makes all viewers, especially non-gamers, feel welcome.

Last but not least, ThatBronzeGirl understands the power of being both a presenter and a teacher. If you are a “n00b” to gaming or simply want a few pointers to ease your way into RPGs, it can be difficult finding a channel where players are not talking over each other, playing silently and swiftly, or prattling on in a way that distracts from the game play itself. ThatBronzeGirl stands apart from these channels because she plays in a way that encourages newcomers and even hardcore gamers to enjoy watching and learning how to play.

If any of this intrigues you, tune into ThatBronzeGirl’s stream. You will be in for a whirlwind of a ride!

Images and Gifs Courtesy of Google and IMBD.