LOS ANGELES—The cam model known as Kristie Bish learned a lot from her previous job as a personal trainer.
“It was inspiring to be surrounded by people determined to reach their dreams of bettering their lives,” Kristie says. “Working in a gym taught me several life lessons, which still echo through me today.
“One of which I often use in streaming is how to be competitive within yourself, always striving to be better than what you were in the previous month.”
Indeed, Kristie carries those lessons from the gym with her during her one-of-a-kind streams on MyFreeCams, where she and her two lions always keep the mood light and the shows fresh.
“I pride myself on consistent innovation in my room,” Kristie continues. “No month is quite like the other, for new clubs, goals, and activities are prepared each month to delight my Camily!
“Working as a personal trainer has shown me that individual growth is an ongoing journey, not a single destination.”
In this exclusive interview for CAMStar accompanied by 12 pages of photography, Kristie discusses her camming cohorts, Lionel and Sam, her flair for cosplay, her superstar inspiration, her favorite football team and her ambitious plans for 2023, plus much more.
Click here for the digital issue.
For bonus questions, see below.
CS: How did you learn ventriloquism?
KB: V-EN-TI-LA-TION? Ventilation? Oh, like vents? And AC units…? Living in Vegas, one must be aware of the latest technological upgrades to their AC Machine. Our summers are known to skyrocket into astronomical temperatures for weeks at a time! In recent years I've learned a lot about AC units and their finicky mechanics so that I can work on them myself rather than hire someone. You know what they say, you can give a man a fish and feed him a day. Or you can teach him to fish and feed him for life.
How do you use MFCShare?
MFCShare is a great tool that can be utilized to connect you directly with fans of your content and work! The website allows you to design a clip site entirely based on your needs and the content you wish to showcase. The club feature is one of my favorite tools, as it allows me to create optional groups that gain access to exclusive content pertaining to a holiday or theme. Most of my clubs are only available for a month, depending on how long we celebrate the event. But some of my clubs have a lifetime entry. For example, once you join Lionel's Cul-... CLUB, you are in it for life! So any time he uploads a new video or photo set, you can view it for free immediately! There is also the added benefit of getting a badge to display next to your name! The badge shows everyone who enters my room that YOU are a proud Lion! Clubs help build the community on MFC by providing a way to establish camaraderie and spirit!
When did you begin incorporating your lions into your cam shows? How did that come about?
A couple of years ago, I was struggling to find a way to manage the harassment I was receiving from online trolls. Watching them say the most hateful things in my chat was difficult. Their words left an uncomfortable weight on my shoulders, regardless of how quickly I erased their remarks and banned their account. I felt suffocated. I didn't want to respond in kind; nastiness in retaliation is not how I want to live, but muting/banning was no longer working. The trolls flooded my room with numerous fake accounts saying the vilest, cruelest thing they could comment. I was at a loss for what to do until I heard a knock at my door.
Standing on my porch was the answer to all my prayers; a very sassy lion with an attitude bigger than his mane was here to help. He strode in and took charge of my room! Whenever someone had an unkind word to say, Lionel snapped back with a humorous and tension-relieving response. Using his quick wit, his charming personality overshadowed any malicious behaviors. People fell quickly to the way of the Lion, inspired by his wild take on life! Lionel waltzed into the Camily's lives when we needed him and, since then, has continued to bring joy to the hearts of many.
What do you like most about camming?
Streaming provides an unprecedented amount of freedom that is unrivaled in any industry. It is a well-known fact that models can make schedules or take sick days when needed, a luxury many cannot afford. But there is a more priceless aspect to streaming that models often overlook. In all facets of jobs that center around public relations, an employee loses their ability to speak their mind. This sad truth can be seen in influencers promoting products they dislike, politicians flip-flopping while campaigning, and even the Best Buy employee who asks you if you have applied for the Best Buy credit card. In most careers, you are required to read off a script and punished when you deviate from it.
However, when streaming, the script is my own to write. Watching countless celebrity stories unfold, I realize the privilege streaming has granted me. No manager is breathing down my neck, reminding me of brand obligations, or trying to enforce what content I create based on popular trends. Instead of this harrowing fate, I am encouraged to explore my notorious concoctions from my large Camily that supports me; even when what I create isn't their first choice. Streaming offers a community of support that allows me to feel safe in my artistry. I have never seen another industry that encourages its artists to create so freely and passionately.
How long have you been a Twitch streamer? What games are your favorite to play and why?
Sadly, I am no longer on Twitch as often. The twitch community is filled to the brim with toxic insecure boys who feel the need to belittle female creators. While I enjoyed some of my time on Twitch, the site is wrought with rude people claiming I cheat at games or criticizing my appearance. There is also a constant fear that someone will report your account and have it deleted for a silly reason, like, they see your feet! It was impossible to let loose and have fun on Twitch because you never feel relaxed enough to enjoy yourself.
Since then, I have gone back to gaming on MFC where the community is astronomically kinder. On MFC, we play multiplayer games that are free to join so that anyone can participate! But be forewarned, my Camily and I are very playfully competitive with one another, so you may hear some bish talking amongst us.
What kind of cosplays have been your favorites to do?
My exploration into cosplay began when I was a mere child. Growing up, my family loved Star Wars and so many other science fiction-related franchises! My Mother loved it so much that she built herself a screen-accurate Biker Scout costume and had us all join the elite 501st Legion. They are a World Class cosplay group that George Lucas has personally acknowledged for their contributions in crowdfunding for his prequel series. The 501st has a rigorous joining process that includes building your character's outfit with a Veteran cosplayer to learn about the best building techniques and the group's ideology. Despite the Legion being filled with entirely villainous characters, the group is well known for their continuous philanthropic work to the local communities where they reside.
When working with the 501st Legion, I was known as a Handler. The handler had the crucial job of helping the volunteers securely fasten themselves into their costumes and watching to ensure there was no malfunction during the event. Witnessing children's faces light up with delight at the sight of Darth Vader marching with them at their school greatly inspired me to begin my cosplay journey.
Since gaining experience with the 501st Legion, I have done over 50 unique cosplays ranging from live action movies to characters from animated TV Shows! However, my favorite characters to represent seem to haunt my Camily's nightmares for days on end. One of my more endearing cosplays was of Marge Simpson, which came complete with ping-pong eyeballs that stare deeply into your soul. Another cosplay that lives rent-free in the heads of many is my terrifying Yoda costume which has long, twisted green fingers and a latex mask. You will feel the hypnotic allure of Yoda when you see this creature reaching towards you, moaning, "HMMMMMMM." Cosplaying as odd characters gives me and countless others the amusement we need to get through life's dreariness.
Name someone who inspires you and why?
When I first began creating the idea for my stream room, I followed a few enormous legends that fill me with so much awe and wonderment any time I stare at the work they create. As many can guess, Disneyland's magical aesthetic, which captures so many's hearts and minds, dramatically influences how I dress my room up in numerous themes, with lights, sparkle, and a bit of extra magic. I decorate my stream room similarly to Disney, having mysterious decorations appear from one season to the next to build anticipation for the next major holiday! Disney isn't just known for their appearances; they also have quite the reputation for throwing grand festivities! You will find that us lions share that knack for celebrating each of the year's holidays with a big bang! Literally! We have done a firework show live on stream before!
Another source of inspiration is the great Diva herself, CHER! She is an unmatched icon that we are blessed to have, creating spectacles for her fans to enjoy for nearly 70 years! There is no denying her span of influence, from the plethora of times she influenced popular fashion across the 60s-early thousands, to the record-breaking number 1 hits that spanned DECADES, to finally, her flair for theatrics! A Cher show is a pageantry of acrobats whirling in the air as she belts her heart out, while quickly changing into her next jaw-dropping outfit, which is dripping in hundreds of crystals glimmering in the light! If there is one thing you can count on, it's that a Cher Show will be an experience you will never forget. This spirit for performance is the immaculate energy I seek to bring into my room.
Name three things that you love…
Naming ONLY three things that I love seems nearly impossible. But naming the three things I love the most is easier. Can you guess what they will be? After reading this far into my interview, you should be able to. Let me give you a hint: two things I love may be a little wild... Thats right! You guessed it! Zebras and Cakes!! hehehehehe
Truthfully, it is rather challenging to make a concise list of things I hold closest to my heart. But if my house were on fire, there are two things I would grab immediately and in this order, Lionel Richie and Samuel L Jackson, of course. Lionel and Sam are irreplaceable facets of my life, much like the third item that I most love. My Camily. With these three things, Lionel, Sam, and my Camily, I know that I will always be okay no matter what life throws at me.
Photography by @VonAndStrom
