Pokimane, the popular Twitch streamer, has taken some time to explain to her fans why she’s "really into celibacy."
In a TikTok video shared on Thursday (December 4), she started by asking her fans if she could tell them "a secret," before saying that celibacy, for her, can "range from not kissing on the first date to saving yourself for marriage."
In the video, she showed her makeup routine and said that celibacy is "a whole spectrum" with "so many upsides."
"For starters, you can avoid becoming attached to the wrong person," she continued. "We all know what that’s like, and that’s because both physical and emotional intimacy release oxytocin, which makes you feel connected to someone even though you may not be compatible. We often think that falling in love is a mystical, rare experience. But sometimes, it’s really just hormones and chemicals."
Pokimane (real name Imane Anys) explained that another benefit is that she gets to "preserve" her energy, focusing on herself instead of someone else. "A surefire way to avoid an emotional vampire is simply not to get close so that they can sink their teeth into you," she said, before adding: "Last, but certainly not least, less stress, less liability, and less risk of anything unwanted happening. There’s just about no downside to [taking] your time."
She concluded the video by suggesting that culture has become increasingly hypersexual, and celibacy of any form could be considered "the new counterculture."
Regardless, she said that it’s important to respect the choices of others and remain true to yourself. In the caption, she added that she’s "always been slow to warm up to people" and "doesn’t like to center [her] life around romantic or intimate relationships."
Pokimane's latest video comes not long after she took it upon herself to buy an engagement ring for herself.
"I bought an engagement ring for myself," she said. "In the comments of my last video, you guys kept talking about a ring. A lot of you were saying, 'Girl, just go get one for yourself.' So that's what I did.
She continued: "A ring at Bulgari that I just fell in love with. … It felt like way too much to get for myself. But then the more I thought about it, I was like, I hope someday I actually get engaged."