“I woke up and knew I’d win”: Vader and Nina win Milk Cup 2025

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 match on the earth, boasting a $300K prize pool and a high-end manufacturing of the competitors at TwitchCon San Diego. Throughout a 12 months filled with hardship for girls in esports, the Milk Cup has turn into a beacon of hope for younger girls that need to thrive within the scene.

“[Our win at Milk Cup] exhibits you might be your true self and never feel sorry about it,” Vader mentioned in a press panel after the victory. “There are areas for everyone, so by no means hand over.”

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 folks improper.

“We went with nice vibes, good psychological,” Nina mentioned. “We instructed ourselves, ‘That is the best match for us, we are going to 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 fearful about different groups. They have been targeted solely on themselves.

Even the gang appeared to slide away. Competing at a large LAN with an enormous viewers in entrance of them was nerve-racking at first, nevertheless it quickly grew to become one other type of motivation. As the biggest occasion of the 12 months, they knew they needed to give it every part they’d. The folks watching at TwitchCon gave them another excuse to win.

Going into the Milk Cup this 12 months, the highest Duos have been all fairly aware of each other. The truth is, some used to play Trios collectively earlier than the format modified. Each workforce has its personal technique and strengths, which have been shaped over the previous season by competing in opposition to each other and feeling extra assured as time went on.

Stated Vader: “This 12 months, 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 after 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 perspective, even taking up essentially the most aggressive Duo within the competitors —  Jaya ‘Fraanticc‘ and Kanary — for the win.

Final 12 months, Vader and Nina took second place, trying like a shoe-in for subsequent 12 months’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 folks had been rooting in opposition to her this season.

She mentioned of the win: “I wanted this all 12 months. I proved so many individuals improper. I awakened and knew I’d win. Individuals didn’t imagine 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 complete 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 expertise, which additional boosted her confidence. The group was along with her.

“It felt loopy to raise that trophy,” added Vader, “to show folks improper in a way, and actually present that anyone can take part in esports. Don’t let folks 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, nevertheless it’s been rather more than that. It’s turn into a protected area. A spot to make pals. A spot to really feel supported. The shut friendships, mentorships, and S-tier experiences have made the ladies competing within the Milk Cup understand they really belong in esports.

Whereas quite a lot of esports tournaments and scenes have been poisonous, particularly to feminine gamers, the Milk Cup has been their likelihood to compete with out concern holding them.

“Putting within the Milk Cup gave us the arrogance and place to essentially enhance our particular person expertise and teamwork,” Vader mentioned 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: most of the girls 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 objective in her life — a objective that the Milk Cup has made potential.

However first, nothing improper with basking within the glory of a hard-earned victory.

“I’ve dreamt about this present day since I used to be 10 and began enjoying Fortnite,” Nina mentioned. “It’s a dream come true.”