Jessica Bravura, known online as Aphmau, has built a vibrant Minecraft empire on YouTube.
Bravura, 34, has 21 million subscribers on YouTube and is known for her role-playing videos on Minecraft servers.
Creators like Bravura use Minecraft to act out scenarios that exist in the fantasy world. Bravura creates scripted and sometimes animated videos. She and her team develop original characters and scenarios that exist in her multiple YouTube series, like “My Street” and “Diaries Reborn.” She voices several characters and also hires voice actors and other creators.
Bravura didn’t find success overnight. She started her YouTube channel over 11 years ago. The oldest video on her main channel shows her playing Minecraft and has 1.4 million views.
Talent management firm Night signed Bravura in 2021 and is managing and growing its business.
Aphmau drew big crowds at VidCon 2024
Bravura was by far the most talked-about star at this year’s VidCon, the creator industry’s largest annual conference. She appeared on several panels that drew huge groups of young fans and met viewers at a meet-and-greet.
She also had the most impressive setup of the event. Her display included several purple cat-themed carnival games, including skeeball, cotton candy, a gigantic gumball machine, and booths selling merchandise.
Bravura’s videos often feature felines, and the main character in his series transforms into a cat named Sprinkles.
She has an in-house production company called CatFace
Bravura has about 80 internal and contractor employees, including a YouTube producer, a production manager and a video editor, who are employed by his production company, Austin-based CatFace.
His company creates and sells branded products
In addition to his YouTube videos, CatFace also runs his merchandise line, MeeMeows.
MeeMeows sells Aphmau-branded merchandise, including plush toys of its iconic cat-like character, clothing, and other accessories.
Bravura is part of a trend of Minecraft streamers growing in popularity on YouTube
Recently, Bravura was nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award in the Favorite Player category.
Like other Minecraft streamers, including the hugely popular Dream, Bravura’s wild and steady success on YouTube over the years has shown that even though the game has been around for 15 years, creators who stream themselves playing it aren’t going anywhere.