After an intense day of battle royale competitors, the Duo of Nina ‘ilyynina’ Fernandez and Vader received the second annual Milk Cup.
Milk Cup is the biggest all-female Fortnite event on this planet, boasting a $300K prize pool and a high-end manufacturing of the competitors at TwitchCon San Diego. Throughout a yr filled with hardship for ladies in esports, the Milk Cup has grow to be a beacon of hope for younger ladies that wish to thrive within the scene.
“[Our win at Milk Cup] reveals you will be your true self and never feel sorry about it,” Vader stated in a press panel after the victory. “There are areas for everyone, so by no means quit.”
Vader and Nina went into the Milk Cup feeling surprisingly assured. After a season of ups and downs, the Duo felt that no person actually had religion in them or noticed them because the winners. However they noticed the Milk Cup as an opportunity to show individuals unsuitable.
“We went with nice vibes, good psychological,” Nina stated. “We informed ourselves, ‘That is the best event for us, we’ll win this it doesn’t matter what it takes.’”
Whereas the Championship was a bit rocky at first, Vader and Nina felt particularly assured after sport 4 of six. After that, the Duo felt locked in and had no extra nerves. They weren’t anxious about different groups. They have been targeted solely on themselves.
Even the group appeared to slide away. Competing at an enormous LAN with an enormous viewers in entrance of them was nerve-racking at first, however it quickly turned one other type of motivation. As the biggest occasion of the yr, they knew they needed to give it every part they’d. The individuals watching at TwitchCon gave them one more reason to win.
Confidence Was Key in Getting the Victory at Milk Cup 2025
Going into the Milk Cup this yr, the highest Duos have been all fairly conversant in each other. In actual fact, some used to play Trios collectively earlier than the format modified. Each staff has its personal technique and strengths, which have been fashioned over the previous season by competing in opposition to each other and feeling extra assured as time went on.
Stated Vader: “This yr, one of many issues we’ve been engaged on as a Duo is having extra confidence going for riskier performs. We went for top floor much more, fought once we needed to. Final time, we didn’t take that threat.”
Certainly, there have been loads of insane moments the place the Duo appeared to have a take-charge angle, even taking up probably the most aggressive Duo within the competitors — Jaya ‘Fraanticc‘ and Kanary — for the win.
Final yr, Vader and Nina took second place, wanting like a shoe-in for subsequent yr’s Championship. Nevertheless, they began off the 2025 season fairly shaky, which made the Duo really feel just like the Fortnite group had misplaced religion in them. In the course of the press convention, Nina particularly felt individuals had been rooting in opposition to her this season.
She stated of the win: “I wanted this all yr. I proved so many individuals unsuitable. I wakened and knew I’d win. Individuals didn’t consider in me, however I by no means gave up. The arrogance was there.”
However perhaps these individuals who misplaced religion in her have been actually simply herself this entire time. When she lifted the trophy on stage with Vader, she observed how many individuals have been cheering for them. Nina was then awarded MVP for her mechanical abilities, which additional boosted her confidence. The group was along with her.
“It felt loopy to raise that trophy,” added Vader, “to show individuals unsuitable in a way, and actually present that anyone can take part in esports. Don’t let individuals cease you. Don’t let feedback get to your head. Imagine in your self.”
The Milk Cup has been a approach for younger feminine Fortnite gamers to hone their abilities, in fact, however it’s been rather more than that. It’s grow to be a protected house. A spot to make associates. A spot to really feel supported. The shut friendships, mentorships, and S-tier experiences have made the ladies competing within the Milk Cup notice they honestly belong in esports.
Whereas a variety of esports tournaments and scenes have been poisonous, particularly to feminine gamers, the Milk Cup has been their probability to compete with out worry holding them.
“Putting within the Milk Cup gave us the arrogance and place to actually enhance our particular person abilities and teamwork,” Vader stated to Esports Insider. “Now we will do even higher in FNCS, utilizing the talents that have been nourished right here.”
And that’s the factor: lots of the ladies competing within the Milk Cup have been given the protected and supportive expertise wanted to construct the arrogance wanted to compete within the Fortnite Championship Sequence. Nina added that making it to the FNCS is an enormous aim in her life — a aim that the Milk Cup has made potential.
However first, nothing unsuitable with basking within the glory of a hard-earned victory.
“I’ve dreamt about today since I used to be 10 and began enjoying Fortnite,” Nina stated. “It’s a dream come true.”
