2023 Streamy Awards Recap: Inside Creator’s Biggest Night

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Cameras were flashing, drinks were flowing, and looks were serving as hundreds of creators, celebrities, and industry professionals gathered in Century City on Sunday night for the 2023 Streamy Awards. The annual ceremony traded its previous home at The Beverly Hilton for The Fairmont Century Plaza on LA’s glittering Avenue of the Stars—a fitting new location for the star-studded event.

We’re never one to miss a creator party, so Team Jellysmack showed up to celebrate and support the nominees, as well as our friends over at Tubefilter, on the big night. This year’s show brought both veterans, including OG YouTuber and host MatPat of The Game Theorists, and newcomers, like TikTok star and Beauty winner Mikayla Nogueria, together to honor the biggest names on the internet across 45 categories.

Lifestyle queen LaurDIY, TikTok comedian Sidney Raz, paranormal investigator Loey Lane, and famed astrophysicist and StarTalk host Neil deGrasse Tyson were among the Jellysmack creator partners who joined us at our tables for the celebratory evening. The energy was palpable as attendees took their seats and made their bets as to who would walk home with a coveted trophy.

And the Streamy goes to…

Host MatPat and drag star Shea Couleéso both played masters of ceremony in between the night’s impressive lineup of creator presenters. Kicking it all off, in Santa suits nonetheless, were Jellysmack partners Zach Kornfeld and Keith Habersberger of The Try Guys. They presented the first award of the evening for Just Chatting, which went to top YouTuber, Twitch streamer, and king of competition, Quackity.

Rising stars were also recognized throughout the night, including trans activist and TikToker Dylan Mulvaney. She took home the Breakout Creator award for documenting her transitioning journey for a year on the platform, which caught the attention of 10.6 million followers in the process. Her inspiring acceptance speech brought tears to the crowd, who rallied around her after the well-deserved win.

“I think the trans community and the creator community actually have something in common. And it’s that people often underestimate us. But I know that we can stay optimistic about the future of transness.”

Dylan Mulvaney, TikToker and trans activist

MasterChef alum and Jellysmack creator partner Nick DiGiovanni also traded his Knife Drop for a mic drop, winning this year’s Food category against some pretty stiff competition. “All I ever wanted to do was excite people about food,” he shared in his acceptance speech. Fresh off the heels of the launch of his debut cookbook Knife Drop, it’s safe to say he’s having a pretty good year, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for him.

What was perhaps the most touching moment of the night was watching Jellysmack creator partner, Invisible People, win the Elevate Prize GET LOUD Award for Social Good. Invisible People is a non-profit dedicated to changing the story of homelessness through storytelling, education, news, and activism.

Mark Horvath, founder of Invisible People, accepted the award on stage, sharing a piece of his own incredible story and ways people can get involved in the fight to end homelessness.

“Three days ago, I celebrated my 28th anniversary of my last day homeless. And now this. And it’s thanks to all of you.”

Mark Horvath, founder of Invisible People

Along with the award, Invisible People also received a $50,000 donation from The Elevate Prize Foundation to help their cause. The money will go toward helping the unhoused find income and affordable housing.

Another highlight? Our friends Colin and Samir, who took to the mic with a comedic bit to announce the award for the anticipated Short Form category, which went to top TikToker Chris Olsen. Chris’s internet sidekick and real-life BFF, Meghan Trainor, also won the first-ever Rolling Stone Sound of the Year award for her viral hit, “Made You Look”.

Of course we all know there’s so much more to a video than what you see on screen. The Craft category spotlights what goes on behind the scenes—the production, creativity, and art that oftentimes goes unnoticed. Jellysmack creator partner Yes Theory took home the prize for Editing, spotlighting exactly what makes their adventure storytelling so captivating.

The night’s big winner? The one and only MrBeast. As someone who doesn’t shy away from a challenge, Jimmy went into this year’s awards ready to shatter his own record and win the night’s most-prized title for the fourth consecutive year. And that he did. 

MrBeast walked away with the coveted Creator of the Year award once again, beating out big names like Logan Paul, Charli D’Amelio, and Alix Earle—but that’s not all. Jimmy also took home the Collaboration award for his iconic rock, paper, scissors battle with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on TikTok, which we’re still watching on repeat.

The evening ended on a high note, with YouTube masterpiece Challenge Accepted winning Show of the Year. The internet’s favorite daredevil Michelle Khare accepted the award, who millions love to watch attempt the world’s most difficult lifestyles and professions, from the Secret Service Academy to training like an olympic figure skater.

“I think what makes this so special is that it’s a show that would have never ever gotten greenlit at any other studio. It’s a show that got made because the only barrier to entry was the upload button.”

Michelle Khare, star of Challenge Accepted

With 45 trophies awarded, energizing performances by Armani White and Icona Pop, and an after party that can only be described as epic, the 2023 Streamy Awards was definitely a night to remember. In case you missed it, you can now catch the full show on YouTube.