Rising Stars: Meet Chanel Chaibooskie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanel Chaibooskie.

Hi Chanel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began my journey in content creation back in 2011, when I posted my first YouTube videos just for fun. Although I always dreamed of being a video creator, it wasn’t until later that I fully pursued it. My friends started streaming, and that was the push I needed. While I had modeled and done photoshoots, it wasn’t until September 2021 that I held my first stream—a simple Just Chatting session on my phone. That moment sparked everything. As I kept going, I was gifted a PC setup, bought my first PS5, and slowly built out my streaming space—thanks to my family and community. From there, I dove into cosplay, created my Instagram page, and eventually brought together two passions: mental health and animation. Through Therapy Thursdays, I built a safe space for open dialogue, and that evolved into my brand, Animental—a platform that connects mental health and animation for people of all ages. Today, I’m still streaming, still creating, and still discovering new facets of myself—guided by a community that believes in me and a purpose that keeps me growing.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth run. Early on, I wrestled with self-doubt—wondering if I was too late to the game or if anyone would actually support me. There were also technical hurdles—especially budget constraints—since I didn’t always have the gear I needed to bring my broadcasts to life. And, of course, balancing my day job, streaming, and building my brand was a constant juggle. But each time I hit a wall, that self-doubt was met by the belief of my community. They kept me going, and slowly, I started to push past those doubts—turning each obstacle into fuel until I began to believe in myself as well.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in building a bridge between mental health and animation. Through my brand, Animental, I bring together animated stories—whether anime, cartoons, or childhood classics—to spark conversations about mental health. I’m known for blending my personal streaming journey with cosplay and storytelling, but what drives me most is transforming my own mental health struggles—and personal family and friendship challenges—into something bigger. Animental is so dear to me because it’s a lifeline born from that journey—a place where others feel seen and heard. At the same time, I’m a variety streamer—I still dive into gaming, and I open doors for my community to experience other cultures—like watching K-dramas together. Cosplay is woven throughout my content as well, creating a vibrant space where all these passions collide. What sets me apart is that I bring my whole self—my struggles, my joy, and my curiosity—into every stream, creating a space where we all grow together

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I see risk-taking as a kind of creative gravity—sometimes it feels like a leap into the unknown, but without that leap, there’s no real flight. One of the biggest risks I took was leaving my comfort zone in 2021—jumping from casual content creation to streaming full-time. Another risk was building Animental—pouring my own mental health story into a public project, not knowing how people would respond. I’m not a thrill-seeker by default, but I’ve learned that each calculated risk—whether it’s a career pivot or a creative leap—helps me grow beyond what I thought was possible. So, while I don’t always see myself as a risk-taker, I do believe that risk—when paired with purpose—can be a catalyst for something truly transformative.

Pricing:

• Subscription on Twitch starts at $4.99 per month.
• For Animental sessions, I offer personalized one-on-one or small group sessions—pricing starts at $75 for a 60-minute session, with custom packages available depending on the depth and length of the session.
• For collaborations or UGC, I provide custom rates based on the project scope.
• For speaking engagements, I offer workshops or talks on mental health, streaming, and content creation starting at $200 per hour, with customized rates depending on the event scope.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chaibooskie.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/chaibooskie and www.instagram.com/animental.pod
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/animental
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/chaibooskie