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 most important all-female Fortnite match 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 girls in esports, the Milk Cup has develop into 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 remorseful about it,” Vader mentioned 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 one actually had religion in them or noticed them because the winners. However they noticed the Milk Cup as an opportunity to show individuals flawed.
“We went with nice vibes, good psychological,” Nina mentioned. “We advised ourselves, ‘That is the simplest match 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 recreation 4 of six. After that, the Duo felt locked in and had no extra nerves. They weren’t nervous about different groups. They have been targeted solely on themselves.
Even the group appeared to slide away. Competing at an enormous LAN with a giant viewers in entrance of them was nerve-racking at first, nevertheless it quickly grew to become one other type of motivation. As the most important occasion of the yr, they knew they needed to give it every part they’d. The individuals watching at TwitchCon gave them another excuse 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 accustomed to each other. In truth, some used to play Trios collectively earlier than the format modified. Each workforce 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.
Mentioned 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 prime floor much more, fought once we needed to. Final time, we didn’t take that danger.”
Certainly, there have been loads of insane moments the place the Duo appeared to have a take-charge angle, even taking over essentially 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. Nonetheless, 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 mentioned of the win: “I wanted this all yr. I proved so many individuals flawed. I awoke and knew I’d win. Folks didn’t imagine in me, however I by no means gave up. The boldness 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 together with her.
“It felt loopy to carry that trophy,” added Vader, “to show individuals flawed 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 means for younger feminine Fortnite gamers to hone their skills, after all, nevertheless it’s been rather more than that. It’s develop into a protected house. A spot to make buddies. 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 really belong in esports.
Whereas lots 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 mentioned to Esports Insider. “Now we are able to 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 Collection. Nina added that making it to the FNCS is a giant objective in her life — a objective that the Milk Cup has made doable.
However first, nothing flawed 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 mentioned. “It’s a dream come true.”
