Remilia, the first woman to join a professional League of Legends team

For Remilia, whose real name is Maria Creveling, video games have always been an integral part of her life. In 2016, at just 21 years of age, she became the first woman to join a professional League of Legends team AND compete in a North American professional tournament. Her journey did not leave me indifferent, and I remember following her closely during the tournament. I admired her audacity and loved watching her play. I interviewed her via Discord, an online discussion platform a la Skype, to find out more about her journey and her point of view in an industry that is still perceived, and rightly so, as a boys’ club.

To understand the current context, Riot Games, the company behind the League of Legends game, has been in a spot of bother for a few months now, following several testimonials from women highlighting the company’s undisguised sexism. It all started with the testimony of an employee. She recounted how she had submitted an idea during a work meeting, only to be completely ignored by her colleagues. She then suggested that a colleague submit the same idea a few days later, and observe the reactions. Unsurprisingly, she was greeted with gusto, and no one remembered that she had been verbalized before. After the first testimony came out, 28 other women filed complaints against the company and 150 employees refused to work until measures were put in place. The studio has made a number of promises, but they are slow to be implemented.

Naomie Marleau: When did you start playing video games?

Maria Creveling: I started playing a multiplayer game called Guns and Duo at a very young age. I made several friends over time, then when the game became outdated, we discovered League of Legends and that’s where it all started.

Naomie Marleau: And at what point did you decide you wanted to go pro?

Maria Creveling: I was watching a North American team go to an international League of Legends tournament in 2015, and I remember being really impressed. I thought they were definitely going to win the tournament. Sadly, we didn’t get very far, but I could see the enthusiasm in the crowd and people cheering on their favorite players. That’s when I said to myself that this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to get out there and play!

Naomie Marleau: How did you feel when you officially became the first woman to play professionally in a major North American tournament?

Maria Creveling: At the time, I was in a bad place personally. I wasn’t in a good place in my life. My only goal was to play. I didn’t really think about the role I could play, or the impact of my presence on stage. It’s something I regret today and should have appreciated more, but I’m glad it touched a lot of people.
To this day, people write to me about it, and I try to be a better role model to encourage young girls to keep trying. I want them to know that if becoming a pro is their dream, they are definitely capable of it.

Naomie Marleau: Following the testimonies of numerous women denouncing the toxic environment in which they worked at Riot Games, do you think any changes will be made, and what impact will this have on the video game industries?

Maria Creveling: I’m definitely happy to know that there’s a positive reaction to this controversy and that people are becoming aware of the sexism still very present in this industry. What disappoints me, however, is that despite the things they promised to put in place, no concrete action has really been taken. It gives the impression that it was all just talk. This industry doesn’t have a very good history with women, but there are definitely a lot of people trying to make things happen from the inside. In China and South Korea, more and more girls are getting involved and wanting to go pro. It’s very encouraging. What’s more, I’m currently playing for a team in Brazil and they’re very open to mixed teams. I definitely think it’s going in the right direction.

Naomie Marleau: What advice would you give to a girl who wants to become a professional player?

Maria Creveling: Teams can’t resist good players. Above all, don’t be discouraged by stereotypes and comments, because there will always be people who criticize. If you’re good, you’ll find a team. If you’re being harassed, just tell yourself that these people don’t deserve your attention and that if you put your mind to it and work for your goals, you’ll find success.