Westcol
Westcol | ||||||||||
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Born | Luis Fernando Villa Álvarez December 24, 2000 Ciudad Bolívar, Antioquia, Colombia | |||||||||
Occupation(s) | Streamer, YouTuber | |||||||||
Years active | 2015–present | |||||||||
Known for | Streaming on Kick, controversy | |||||||||
Twitch information | ||||||||||
Channel | ||||||||||
Years active | 2018–2023 | |||||||||
Followers | 1.3 million [1] | |||||||||
Kick information | ||||||||||
Channel | ||||||||||
Years active | 2023–present | |||||||||
Followers | 1.7 million [2] | |||||||||
YouTube information | ||||||||||
Channel | ||||||||||
Years active | 2015–present | |||||||||
Subscribers | 1.12 million[3] | |||||||||
Total views | 191 million[3] | |||||||||
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Last updated: December 2024 |
Luis Fernando Villa Álvarez(Spanish: [ˈlwis feɾˈnando ˈβiʝa ˈalβaɾes], born December 24, 2000), better known by his online alias Westcol, is a Colombian online streamer, and YouTuber. Recognized as the most-followed streamer on Kick,[4] Westcol rose to fame through his engaging personality, controversial statements, gaming[5] and Just Chatting content and live events.[6] His prominence has positioned him as a key Latin American streaming community figure.[7]
Career
[edit]Streaming debut
[edit]Villa began his career as a content creator in 2015, uploading videos to YouTube. In 2018, he transitioned to Twitch, where he gained recognition streaming games such as Minecraft and engaging in Just Chatting sessions.[8] By 2023, Villa shifted his primary platform to Kick following Twitch's gambling policy changes.[9]
Content focus
[edit]Westcol's streams are known for featuring content such as Minecraft, live audience interactions, and real-life events, including his boxing event[10] and participation in the Américas Kings League with his club,[11][12] West Santos FC, alongside Arcángel.[13] He is also known for his casino streams and collaborations with prominent creators like Adin Ross and Sergio Aguero.[14] His charismatic yet controversial approach has attracted a diverse fan base.
Move to Kick
[edit]In April 2023, Westcol joined Kick, becoming the most-followed streamer on the platform, with over 1.7 million followers by December 2024.[15] His migration to Kick was marked by significant viewership growth, making him a pivotal figure in the platform's expansion in Latin America.[16][17]
Controversies
[edit]- In 2022, Villa made threatening derogatory remarks about the LGBTQ+ community.[18][19] Leading to a lawsuit and a mandate by the Constututional Court of Colombia [20] to undergo training on LGBTQ+ rights and use his platform to promote inclusivity.[21][22]
Personal life
[edit]Westcol is currently based in Medellín, Colombia.[23] He is in a relationship with Valka[24] and has publicly addressed his past relationship with Colombian influencer Aída Victoria Merlano.[25]
Achievements
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ https://socialblade.com/twitch/user/westcol
- ^ https://aerokick.app/stats/channels/westcol
- ^ a b "About Westcol". YouTube.
- ^ Mundia, Khizar (21 October 2024). "Who is WestCol, the Kick streamer who has overtaken Adin Ross?". gameland.gg. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "Westcol hace historia: El streamer hispanohablante más grande se une a los Squid Games". revistaclevel.com (in Spanish). 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Estrada, Eduardo. "Westcol es el streamer hispano más visto del mundo por tercer mes consecutivo". www.storybaker.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ tunota.com, Redacción (28 June 2024). "WestCol biografía: ¿Quién es Luis Villa y cómo fueron sus comienzos?". TuNota (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "WestCOL - Twitch Stats, Analytics and Channel Overview". streamscharts.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "All the biggest streamers that joined Kick". esports.gg. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "Westcol SHATTERS Kick Records with Historic Boxing Event". Streamers Visuals. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Cuenta regresiva para el inicio de la Kings League Américas". Diario AS (in Spanish). 19 February 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Barrera, Por Elsa (25 October 2023). "Westcol participará en la Kings League de Gerard Piqué junto a un famoso reguetonero". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Kings League Americas: Cómo jugar y cuánto ganar por estar en el equipo de James, 'Westcol' u otro". MARCA (in Spanish). 28 October 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Mukherjee, Shreyan (30 May 2024). ""Let's go to my house" - Sergio Aguero invites Kick streamer WestCOL to possibly meet Lionel Messi in Miami". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "WestCol topples Adin Ross as Kick's biggest streamer with new viewership record". Dexerto. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "El impresionante récord que rompió un streamer sudamericano en Kick - TyC Sports". www.tycsports.com (in Spanish). 21 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "WestCOL se convierte en el Ibai de Kick: Destroza récords en la plataforma verde con su propia velada". MARCA (in Spanish). 26 September 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Nelken-Zitser, Joshua. "An influencer who said he'd shoot a gay son was ordered to post content about the harm caused by homophobia and transphobia". Business Insider. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Tegel, Simeon (14 March 2024). "Influencer who said he would 'shoot gay son' ordered to campaign against homophobia". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Streamer Westcol enfrenta tutela por declaraciones homofóbicas". ELESPECTADOR.COM (in Spanish). 28 September 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "Colombian Court Orders Influencer to Address Homophobia and Transphobia - bizcomdaily". 22 March 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Perry, Sophie (15 March 2024). "Influencer who said he'd 'shoot gay son' must educate followers about homophobia". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Niño, Por Luciano (13 November 2024). "Westcol encendió las redes al presumir su más reciente adquisición: "Tengo un nuevo juguete en la casa"". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ Méndez, Por Juan David Botia (7 October 2024). "Duras críticas a Westcol por incluir a su nueva novia en una canción con un reconocido productor: "La brujería esta funcionando"". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Fajardo, Camila Paola Sánchez (1 December 2024). "Aida Merlano responde a Westcol por enviarle un mensaje a su actual pareja y revela detalles de su relación pasada con el 'streamer': 'Sácate mi nombre de la boca'". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Mukherjee, Shreyan (21 October 2024). "WestCol dethrones Adin Ross to become the most-followed Kick streamer, Stream Fighter 3 garners over 1 million live viewers". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ eSports, Movistar (23 October 2024). "Kick presume del récord de viewers de WestCOL: primero en superar el millón". Movistar eSports (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "Spanish star uppercuts Kick viewership records with influencer boxing event". Dexerto. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.