You’ve probably seen her. Maybe it was a clip of her losing her mind over a Labubu blind box or just yapping about her day while doing her makeup. She’s everywhere. Most people know her as Vanilla Mace, the creator who feels more like a chaotic older sister than a polished "influencer." But if you’ve spent five minutes in her Twitch chat or scrolled through her Reddit threads, you’ve definitely seen the question: What is Vanilla Mace's real name?
Honestly, she’s not one of those creators who treats their identity like a state secret. She’s pretty chill about it.
The Girl Behind the Username
Vanilla Mace’s real name is Emily. Most of her long-time fans just call her Em. It’s simple. It’s normal. It’s a bit of a contrast to the "Vanilla Mace" moniker, which sounds like either a high-end self-defense tool or a really aggressive candle scent.
She was born on August 25, 1996, which makes her a 29-year-old Virgo. That Virgo energy explains a lot if you watch her streams. There’s this weirdly specific attention to detail buried under all the "yapping." She grew up in Connecticut, but she’s mentioned her Italian and Polish roots plenty of times. Sometimes people think she’s Latina—the search term "Vanilla Mace Salvadorian" actually trends every now and then—but she’s cleared that up on stream. She’s just a girl from New England who happens to have a racially ambiguous look that keeps people guessing.
Why "Vanilla Mace"?
Where did that name even come from? It’s not deep. It’s really not.
In a YouTube short from July 2025, she explained that she basically just made it up back in 2018. Before the fame, her Instagram was just her full name. She got bored. She wanted an alias—a "random username" just to have some fun.
"I don't even know if it has a specific origin... I'm like, vanilla is sweet, kind, fun... and mace is a little spice," she told an interviewer.
Some fans on Reddit theorized it was a play on Vanilla Ice, but nope. She just liked the vibe. It’s the perfect brand for her: half sweet, half "I will actually fight you."
The Career Pivot: From the Club to the Camera
Before she was the "internet’s comfort streamer," Emily had a very different job. She’s been incredibly open about the fact that she used to be a stripper. She doesn’t hide it, and she doesn't let people use it to shame her. In fact, she’s become a bit of an inspiration for other women in the industry who want to pivot into content creation.
During her time in the club, she didn’t use the name Vanilla. She went by Avery.
She eventually hung up the heels to go full-time with content around 2024. It wasn't an overnight success, but once those TikTok clips started hitting—like the one where she beats a light-up piñata to Marvin Gaye—there was no going back.
What Actually Makes Her Famous?
It’s the authenticity. That sounds like a corporate buzzword, but with Emily, it’s actually true.
Most streamers have this "on" switch. They’re loud, they’re performative, and everything is a "challenge." Emily? She just sits there. She talks. She eats a pistachio donut and looks like she’s seeing God. People love it because she’s relatable. She does vlogs alone. She shops alone. She makes it okay to be a "certified yapper" who also values their introverted time.
By mid-2025, she had racked up over 600,000 followers on Twitch and millions on TikTok. She’s moved into the "big leagues" of the creator world, collaborating with names like QTCinderella, Hasan Piker, and Brittany Broski.
The Controversy and the "Mean Girl" Allegations
You can't get that big without some drama.
Because her humor is dry and she doesn’t put up with nonsense from her chat, some people label her as "mean." There was a whole thing on Reddit about her being "toxic" or "gossipy." Then there was the 2025 "Sisathon" party drama where she showed up after saying she wouldn’t associate with certain people.
But her fans (the "girly-pops") defend her fiercely. They like that she enforces boundaries. If a fan pisses her off, she tells them. It’s a refreshing change from creators who act like every follower is their best friend just to keep the sub count up.
Practical Takeaways for Fans
If you’re new to the "Vanilla-verse," here is how to actually keep up with her without getting lost in the lore:
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- Watch the VODs: If you miss her live at 6 pm PST on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays, her YouTube VOD channel is a goldmine.
- Follow the Instagram: It’s @vanilllamace (with three Ls). That’s where you’ll see the best of her "Em" persona.
- Respect the Boundaries: She’s been very vocal about people prying too much into her private life or her family. Stick to the content she shares.
The reality is that Vanilla Mace real name is just a small part of why she’s interesting. Whether she’s Emily, Em, or Vanilla, she’s carved out a space on the internet by just being a person who doesn't shut up. And honestly? We need more of that.
To get the full experience, your best bet is to catch a live stream and see the "yapping" in real-time. Just don't ask her to change her name back to Emily P—she's clearly found her brand.