Kayla Sims

Sims started making YouTube videos about The Sims in 2015.{{Cite web|last=Bonfiglio|first=Nahila|date=January 13, 2019|title=YouTuber makes 'The Sims 4' bathrooms gender neutral, and fans are in love|url=https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/lilsimsie-gender-neutral-bathrooms/|access-date=March 19, 2020|website=The Daily Dot|language=en-US}} Sims' most popular YouTube video, "Building in The Sims but Each Room is a Different Budget" has over 4 million views.{{Citation |title=Building in The Sims but Each Room is a Different Budget | date=September 19, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esfoUD_YkEY |access-date=2023-07-05 |language=en}} As of May 2024, Sims has two million subscribers.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-05-30 |title=Lilsimsie's YouTube Stats and Insights |url=https://vidiq.com/youtube-stats/channel/UC_TYFButglZuuDbD-0Q_IzQ/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=vidIQ}}

Sims is the creator of the Wolf Pack Challenge, which uses The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs expansion pack,{{Cite web|last=White|first=Jeanette|date=2020-07-21|title=The Sims 4: Five challenges to spice up the gameplay|url=https://gamefreaks365.com/the-sims-4-five-challenges-to-spice-up-the-gameplay/|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Game Freaks 365|language=en-US}} the Not So Berry Challenge, created with her friend Zoë (alwaysimming),{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Kiera |date=2022-07-29 |title=Sims 4 Not So Berry Challenge |url=https://www.ggrecon.com/guides/sims4-not-so-berry-challenge/ |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=GGRecon |language=en}} and the Verry Veggie Legacy challenge.{{Cite web |title="STARTING THE VERY VEGGIE LEGACY CHALLENGE!" |url=https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2449307667 |website=Twitch}} In 2019, for her "Simsie Save", in which Sims renovates the game's worlds and characters, Sims made all toilets in her save gender-neutral.{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Jess|date=January 8, 2019|title=The Sims player praised for making toilets gender neutral in new save|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a25801205/the-sims-4-player-praised-gender-neutral-toilets/|access-date=March 19, 2020|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Gita|date=January 7, 2019|title=Sims YouTuber Makes All The Game's Bathrooms Gender Neutral|url=https://kotaku.com/sims-youtuber-makes-all-the-games-bathrooms-gender-neut-1831548277|access-date=March 19, 2020|website=Kotaku|language=en-us}} One of Sims' longest running YouTube series was the "100 Baby Challenge" series, in which she completed the 100 Baby Challenge in The Sims 4 over the course of five years.{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Gita|date=September 14, 2020|title=It Took This YouTuber Five Years to Have 100 Babies In 'The Sims 4'|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/it-took-this-youtuber-five-years-to-have-100-babies-in-the-sims-4/|access-date=September 29, 2020|website=Vice.com|language=en}}

In a July 2020 patch to The Sims 4, all cowplants in the game were given the default name "Little Simzee" as a nod to Sims' campaign for the ability to name cowplants in game.{{Cite web|last=Wozniak|first=Paul|date=2020-07-27|title=Sims 4 Devs Listened to Fan's Request to Enable Us Name Our Cow Plants|url=https://www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/sims-4-devs-listened-to-fans-request-to-enable-us-name-our-cow-pl/z5210b|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Gamepressure.com|language=en}} Part of this campaign included getting the #justiceforcowplants trending on the Sims gallery via a "shell" building challenge.{{Cite web|last=lilsimsie|date=2020-07-24|title=THEY PUT *ME* IN THE SIMS 4|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw5hJzPzbbM|access-date=2020-07-31|via=YouTube}} In August 2020, Sims joined other Sims YouTubers in speaking out against the lack of diversity in skin tones in The Sims 4.{{Cite web|last=Ashcroft|first=Helen|date=2020-08-12|title=It Took Sims 4 Players Of All Races To Get A Promise Of Skintone Diversity – This In Itself Is A Problem|url=https://www.thegamer.com/sims-4-players-all-races-skintone-diversity-problem/|access-date=2020-08-23|website=TheGamer|language=en-US}} The item All-In-One Gemology Table By Humphrey, Inc. in The Sims 4: Crystal Creations, released in February 2024, is named after Sims' rags-to-riches testplay sim Stanley Humphrey.{{Cite web |last=lilsimsie |date=2024-03-01 |title=i tried getting rich from just *crystals* in the sims |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYr_A6Cj4es |access-date=2025-06-01 |via=YouTube}}

Sims was a judge on YouTube's gaming creator competition show, uTure.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2022-04-09 |title=YouTube Launches $100,000-Prize Global Competition Show to Find Next Big Gaming Creator, Hosted by Ali-A |url=https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/youtube-launches-100-000-prize-100012904.html |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=ca.finance.yahoo.com |language=en-CA}}{{Cite magazine |last=Blake |first=Vikki |date=2022-04-09 |title=New YouTube show wants to discover "the next big gaming content creator" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/new-youtube-show-wants-to-discover-the-next-big-gaming-content-creator/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |magazine=Games Radar |language=en}} The show ended August 13, 2022.{{Citation |title=Who's WON $100,000?! - uTure Show FINAL! | date=August 13, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBMeLrH31v4 |access-date=2024-02-08 |language=en}}

Sims has a Twitch channel with 906,000 followers, and usually streamed six days per week.{{Cite web|last=Nightingale|first=Ed|date=June 29, 2021|title=Twitch streamer lilsimsie raises $15,000 for Transgender Law Center|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/06/29/lilsimsie-twitch-streamer-charity-transgender-law-center/,%20https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/06/29/lilsimsie-twitch-streamer-charity-transgender-law-center/,%20https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/06/29/lilsimsie-twitch-streamer-charity-transgender-law-center/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Pink News|language=en-GB}}{{Citation |title=lilsimsie – Twitch |url=https://www.twitch.tv/lilsimsie |access-date=2022-06-04}} In 2018, Sims was nominated for Streamer of the Year at Summer in the City for her streaming on Twitch.{{Cite web|last=Beveridge|first=Marta|date=12 August 2018|title=Summer in the City Awards 2018 Round-Up|url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2018/08/12/summer-in-the-city-awards-2018-round-up/|access-date=25 June 2020|website=Ten Eighty Magazine|language=en-GB}} In January 2021, an illustration of her cat was made the PogChamp emote on Twitch for a day.{{cite web |last1=Hao |first1=Dexter Tan Guan |title=Every PogChamp in 2021 |url=https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/every-pogchamp-in-2021 |website=Dot Esports |date=13 February 2021}}

Sims, as part of the team Sandy's Candies with streamers brandiganBTW, Fuzzireno, and TheHaboo, won the first Stardew Valley Cup in September 2021.{{Cite web|last=Michael|first=Cale|date=2021-09-05|title=Who won the Stardew Valley Cup: Results, Final Standings, Scores|url=https://dotesports.com/general/news/who-won-the-stardew-valley-cup-results-final-standings-scores|access-date=2021-10-24|website=Dot Esports|language=en-US}}

In May 2022, Sims revisited the subject of her most popular video, leaving her Sims 4 game unpaused all night, but this time on her Twitch stream instead of in a YouTube video.{{Cite news |last=Morton |first=Lauren |date=2022-05-19 |title=The latest sadistic Sims challenge: survive 24 hours unsupervised in a haunted house |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-latest-sadistic-sims-challenge-survive-24-hours-unsupervised-in-a-haunted-house/ |access-date=2022-05-31}}

In May 2020, Sims organized her first charity stream for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In May 2021, Sims participated in the St. Jude Play Live event, this time streaming every day for the entire month of May, and raised $369,000 for St. Jude, bringing her total amount raised for that charity to over $500,000.{{Cite web |last=Alvarez |first=Daniel |date=2021-06-03 |title=Content creators raised $4 million during the St. Jude Play Live event on Twitch |url=https://gamefreaks365.com/content-creators-raised-4-million-during-the-st-jude-play-live-event-on-twitch/ |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=Game Freaks 365 |language=en-US}} Sims raised another $516,000 in 2023 and $610,000 in 2024 during Play Live.{{Cite web |title=Previous Campaigns |url=https://tiltify.com/@lilsimsie/profile/archived |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Tiltify |language=en-US}} For her sixth fundraiser for St. Jude, Sims raised over $1,000,000 for the hospital.{{Cite web |title=Simsie Squad for St. Jude PLAY LIVE 2025 |url=https://tiltify.com/@lilsimsie/stjude-2025 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Tiltify |language=en-US}} As of June 2025, Sims has raised over $3,000,000 for St. Jude Children's Hospital through her annual month-long charity Twitch streams.{{Cite web |title=Lifetime raised St. Jude |url=https://plk.experience.stjude.org/total-raised/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=plk.experience.stjude.org |language=en-US}}

Sims used to be a supporter of AbleGamers, a charity dedicated to making games accessible to disabled children, and has raised money for them on multiple campaigns since 2020. In August 2021, Sims raised over $100,000 for AbleGamers to help Steven Spohn reach his birthday fundraising goal of $1,000,000.{{Cite web |date=19 August 2021 |title=How a Disabled Gamers Initiative Was Able to Raise $1 Million |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/steven-spohn-able-gamers-charity-fundraising-drive-disabled-gamers}} Sims distanced herself from the organization after accusations of abuse, misogyny and mismanaging of funds at AbleGamers came to light in an article published in May 2025 on IGN.{{Cite web |last=Stoner |first=Grant |date=2025-05-13 |title=Former Employees, Community Members Allege AbleGamers Founder Fostered Abuse Behind Closed Doors |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/former-employees-community-members-allege-ablegamers-founder-fostered-abuse-behind-closed-doors |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=IGN.com |language=en-US}}

In June 2021, Sims raised $15,000 for the Transgender Law Center during a charity stream. In March 2024, Sims raised another $37,000 for Advocates for Trans Equality.{{Cite web |last=moresimsie |date=2024-04-05 |title=TRANS PRIDE CHARITY STREAM! (Streamed 3/30/24) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEfr7N8jS74 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=YouTube |language=en-US}} Following the political developments of the second Trump administration and its effects on transgender lives in early 2025, Sims raised over $30,000 for Trans Lifeline.{{Cite web |last=moresimsie |date=2025-03-31 |title=WHEEL DECIDES MY SIMS BUILD (Charity Stream) 🩵🤍🩷 (Streamed 3/29/25) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBfRMqXk99Q |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=YouTube |language=en-US}}

On January 22, 2024, Sims raised money for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund through her Twitch account. She raised $52,000 in one day.{{Cite web |date=January 22, 2024 |title=we raised $52,000 on stream today for the palestine children's relief fund. thanks for helping me do this. together we do so much good. |url=https://twitter.com/lilsimsie/status/1749607032670269504 |access-date=February 8, 2024}}

Other charities Sims has raised money for on Twitch through Tiltify campaigns are The American Cancer Society, Direct Relief following Hurricane Irma, Color of Change, Feeding America, Stop AAPI Hate, Hope for Haiti, Comic Relief (Kids Relief) for Red Nose Day 2022 and the American Heart Association.

As of June 2025, Sims has raised $3,925,000 for charity through Tiltify.{{Cite web |title=lilsimsie on Tiltify |url=https://tiltify.com/@lilsimsie/profile |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Tiltify |language=en-US}}

In October 2020, Sims announced her collaboration with The Sims 4: Snowy Escape expansion pack, creating three lots for the game: 6–4–1 Hanamigawa, 5–6–1 Shinrinyoku, and 2–5–1 Wakabamori.{{Cite magazine |last=Mercante |first=Alyssa |date=2020-10-28 |title=The Sims 4 Snowy Escape finally gives Simmers what they want with in-depth behavior changes and an intricate new world |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-sims-4-snowy-escape-preview/ |access-date=2020-10-29 |magazine=Games Radar |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Muller |first=Antoinette |date=2020-11-29 |title=Sims 4 Snowy Escape: Which EA Game Changers built which lots |url=https://extratime.media/2020/11/29/sims-4-snowy-escape-list-of-lots-game-changers-builds/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306173656/https://extratime.media/2020/11/29/sims-4-snowy-escape-list-of-lots-game-changers-builds/ |archive-date=2021-03-06 |access-date=2020-12-02 |website=Extratime Media |language=en-ZA }} In January 2023, Sims announced her collaboration with The Sims 4: Growing Together expansion pack, creating three lots for the game: Celebration Center, Sequoia Cottage, and 13 Acacia Avenue.{{Cite AV media |last=Sims |first=Kayla |date=2023-03-13 |title=I got to build official lots for The Sims 4: Growing Together |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVdvvUOZlKc |access-date=2023-03-31}} She collaborated with the franchise again with The Sims 4: Comfy Gamer kit, released in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Geikhman |first=Yuliya |date=2025-01-17 |title=Sims 4 Just Got 3 New Kits, Including 2 Perfect Choices If You Love Bella Goth & Don Lothario |url=https://screenrant.com/sims-4-new-kits-bella-goth-don-lothario/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}

Sims also created content for TikTok. In January 2022, a TikTok she made explaining first-person mode in the Sims 4 and featuring a sim making a grilled cheese was removed for "nudity and sexual activity." The TikTok was subsequently restored and has over 500,000 views.{{Cite web |last=Scotti |first=Lawrence |date=2022-01-28 |title=TikTok removes The Sims 4 video of grilled cheese for "nudity" |url=https://www.dexerto.com/sims/tiktok-removes-the-sims-4-video-of-grilled-cheese-for-nudity-1750789/ |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Dexerto |language=en}}

Sims lived in Chicago until her family moved to Florida when she was 4.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZfG9XSw20Q |title=building a christmas tree farm in the sims |date=2023-11-25 |type=YouTube video|language=EN |publisher=lilsimsie |trans-title= |location= |time=24:57- |access-date=2023-11-25 |format= |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote=I've never had a real Christmas tree. I guess we did when I was like really little and still in Chicago. But since moving to Florida when I was four, we have not had a real one. |people=Kayla Sims |via=YouTube}} She began playing The Sims when she was 12 and became particularly interested in the game after her father was diagnosed with cancer when she was 14.{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Ruma |title=How a virtual world helped streamer lilsimsie deal with cancer in real life |url=https://www.stjude.org/inspire/series/selfless/how-a-virtual-world-helped-streamer-lilsimsie-deal-with-cancer-in-real-life.html |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=www.stjude.org |language=en}} Sims has attributed the game with helping her cope with her father's diagnosis, using it as an “escape”. Sims graduated from the University of Central Florida in May 2020 with a bachelor's degree in history.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtnXM5q7pYA |title=My graduation was cancelled so I did it in The Sims instead |date=2020-04-27 |last=lilsimsie |access-date=2024-07-08 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddN_mTpGpjI |title=an honest review of the sims 4's fan voted kits |date=2024-01-18 |last=lilsimsie |access-date=2024-07-08 |via=YouTube}}

Sims married fellow streamer Dan Grenander on August 25, 2021.{{Cite web|last=lilsimsie|date=2021-11-21|title=we got married|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hejjWstFkZ0|access-date=2021-11-21|website=YouTube}} Previously, Grenander had moved to the United States to live with her in July 2021 on a K-1 fiancé visa, after living in the United Kingdom. They applied for the visa in February 2020.{{Citation|title=so... i am engaged| date=April 2, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDdt0i7_Tc0|language=en|access-date=2021-04-02}} Grenander streams on Twitch under the name “duckdan” and uploads to his associated YouTube channel under the same name. Grenander often plays games such as Dead by Daylight, Fall Guys and Minecraft.{{Citation |title=duckdan Videos – Twitch |url=https://www.twitch.tv/duckdan/videos |access-date=2022-06-04}} They often play games together, such as Mario Kart, Among Us and Fall Guys. They live in Oviedo, Florida.{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Nikita |date=2022-02-07 |title=How The Sims Became the Internet's Most Exciting Place to Eat |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/dining/sims-custom-food.html |access-date=2022-02-26 |issn=0362-4331}} Their wedding was on February 2, 2025.

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Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:American Twitch (service) streamers

Category:21st-century American women

Category:American gaming YouTubers

Category:YouTube channels launched in 2015

Category:YouTubers from Chicago

Category:University of Central Florida alumni