Today we’d like to introduce you to River “thiccsparklebutt” Selby.
Hi River “thiccsparklebutt”, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in a high controlled religious family and after my separation from my ex-husband, the need for freedom consumed me. I started streaming just to let out the personality that I had been suppressing my whole life. I met a lot of talented people in the Twitch streaming space, but because of how they looked or identified, they weren’t recognized, guided, or properly supported to succeed. So that was my goal, to help marginalized streamers. I started creating events to showcase the talented creators I could find. It started with music. There were a few producers that had amazing ears like, Khoi Kidd who was in the UK and prynce8 from North Carolina who had sounds that scratched my ear in the most amazing way. I created beat battle events that would give producers songs and tell them to mash up or remix a song into a specific genre.
Then I discovered poetry. I was asked to join The Garden Creatives by TheMedusaChan as her administrative assistant. What I didn’t know was that at 43 years old, I would discover that I was a poet myself. My poetry started gaining a little attention on TikTok but when the government wanted to shut TikTok down, I deleted my account. I have some things posted on Instagram but not everything. I’ve been considering starting a YouTube channel just for my poetry but this year I am focused on performing my poetry live on stage.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have yet to know a smooth road in my life. My personal struggles in the last 5 years of being a creator have been novel worthy. I have a full-time job that barely pays my bills. I am in school. I have both mental and physical disabilities that dictate how and when I move or can create. So, consistency with streaming, school and work is almost impossible. I have lost friends I considered my chosen family. I have lost biological family that still breathe. But these struggles are refining me. I am in a constant state of growth and growth is always uncomfortable for those who resist it. I’ve learned to take my “Ls” as lessons on how to change and be better. I become a new person every year and I love that for me and about me. I also am not a stranger to sharing my experiences with my community, both the good and the bad. Why? Because I want people to know that I have been through alot of shit in order to learn the lessons I speak about. But of course, a girl does keep some things to herself.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My name on Twitch is thiccsparklebutt. Which may not be odd in 2026, but it was in 2021. It’s what I call fireflies. A quick name change to make someone giggle, made me visible to others and sat me on this path. What am I known for? I think if you ask people in the communities I frequent, they will all have a different answer. Some good, some not so great. But what I’d like to be known for is helping people become more compassionate towards each other while making people laugh. Whether I am a lesson or a blessing, remains to be seen, but I just want to be helpful anyway I can. I volunteer my time as an Event Planning Mentor for the Twitch Latin Guild and I am also a 1000 Dreams Fund recipient and ambassador and help raise money.What sets me apart from others? Me. All of us on this planet are shaped and molded by our experiences and no two experiences are alike. Everyone is set apart from everyone. We are all unique in our own way and I think thats what makes Twitch, and life, for that matter, so interesting. It’s like a choose your own adventure book where you get to see what resonates with you.
Any big plans?
As of right now the two major projects I have are my annual Beat Battle in March (date TBD) and an in-person poetry competition. I made a promise to myself this year that I would put my poetry on the stage a few times and I make it a point to keep promises to myself. As far as changes go? I’m always changing but if any big changes come, we will all be surprised together.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icuddlepuffs/
- Twitter: https://x.com/icuddlepuffs
- Other: https://www.twitch.tv/thiccsparklebutt
