I had the immense pleasure to interview my dear friend Kaori Takee. To put it simply, Kaori is a badass. She’s been one of my biggest inspirations and role models. She’s gorgeous, talented, and SUPER cool. To see what all the fuss is about, read on.

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself, Miss Kaori?

A little? But there’s so much! Just kidding. Well, I was raised by wolves – Asian wolves. I went to a French school for 13 years, studied at UC Berkeley (Go Bears!), lived in Japan, and I love Pomeranians. So this means I speak fluent French, okay Japanese, and Pomeranian, AKA Fluffy. My dog Wakame is my lifeline.

2. What drew you into the gaming industry?

I have an older brother who I looked up to tremendously as a child. So whatever he was doing or wanted to do, I always wanted to do with him. That’s initially how I got into wrestling, micro-machines, and…video games. I was his player 2. We had our own controllers. Mine was always the NES Advantage. So, my love for gaming commenced. Contra, Streets of Rage, Miles to Sonic, Luigi to Mario, so many memories have been built on gaming!

3. What are some of your favorite games?

Mannnnn, I always feel like that’s such an unfair question to ask! Ha, only ’cause there are so many good games and I press power depending on my mood…how can you pick JUST one or a few? The stress! Just kidding. Well, I would say I do have a soft spot for JRPGs, especially Final Fantasy II. Rydia is my favorite heroine ever. They don’t make ‘em like they used to… Currently I would say Skyrim, The Last of Us, Uncharted, Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World…Luigi’s Mansion is super cute…and the TellTale games (The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us, etc.) are always fun. Nintendo is so underrated, more people should be messing around with the Wii U or 3DS XL! Maybe I should go back to Japan…

4. You’re a co-host for several Afterbuzz TV shows. How did you become involved with Afterbuzz TV?

I emailed them, sent over my reel and here I am. Now I do watch some TV, but currently I comment on WWE, Sailor Moon, Once Upon A Time, and the America’s Got Talent after shows at Afterbuzz.

5. What are some of your favorite TV shows?

Oh man…EVER? Hands down Married…With Children. Currently: Family Guy, Game of Thrones, Modern Family, Arrow, and anything Sailor Moon. I miss Breaking Bad…and I miss how invested I was in The Walking Dead. Downton Abbey. Fresh Off The Boat is pretty funny too.

6. You’re a pretty big wrestling fan. What fascinated you about this sport?

You know, when I was a kid, watching WWF, I was always fascinated by the idea of people fighting and a whole crowd watching. Their characters, gimmicks, and the cheesy story lines. The walk down the stairs, and the craziness that I thought was REAL and scary. Now I KNOW it’s real and scary. It becomes an addiction. It’s honestly a love-hate relationship at this point.

7. Who are some of your favorite wrestlers?

Gotta represent for the ladies…I’ll say AJ Lee and Paige are my current faves. Okay, fine, and Cesaro.

8. You have two YouTube channels, your namesake channel and Team Amasian. What inspired you to create your own channels?

I’ve had my own channel for a very long time, but I haven’t put much content on it. That’s something that I want to push for this year. As for my Amasian shows, my friend Ann and I developed the idea ’cause we had so much in common, and what better way to spend time than record and talk? We’ve just built so much fun out of it.

9. Who are some of your favorite female YouTubers?

You, Alyssa White. And Team Amasian.

10. What advice would you give to other women looking to break into the gaming/TV industry?

First thing that comes to mind is to be good to others. Treat people how you expect to be treated. I’ve seen people make it to the top by mistreating others, and kudos to them and all, but I just know I’d never want to look back and feel like my “empire” was built by being an a**hole. And don’t take anything personal.

11. Finally, where can we find you?

I’m everywhere as Kaorious. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Twitch. Find me, add me, friend me!

Thank you, Kaori, for allowing me to interview you! I’ve known Kaori for a while now, and she’s never failed to put a smile on my face or to inspire me to chase my dreams. I would definitely recommend getting to know this beautiful woman. You just might find a new girl crush.