Meet the diverse creators paving the way in Meta Horizon Worlds

Since we launched Meta Horizon Worlds less than a year ago, creators have built more than 10,000 worlds. We’ve also seen an emerging set of creators become experts in building dynamic virtual reality experiences.

They’ve lent their unique skills to some of the biggest brands in the world—including Mastercard, Target and Monkeypaw Productions/Universal Pictures—to build immersive Worlds designed by and for diverse communities.

We spoke with a few of these visionary creators—RhondaX, Nathan “Skitter_” Crawford, Ashley “Ashes2Ashes2” Briley, Matt “Tellous” Torres and Kiernan “Flutt3r” Pearce—to learn more about their experiences and gather advice for brands and the next generation of creators.

RhondaX + Skitter_, the digital creators behind Mastercard’s True Self World

For RhondaX, her love of creating started with building MySpace pages for classmates in high school. When she didn’t see many people who looked like her in tech, she pivoted to becoming a digital creator. As an advocate for women in Web3, Meta Horizon Worlds gave her a platform to connect her love of STEM, entrepreneurship and chat rooms.

For Nathan "Skitter_'' Crawford, Meta Horizon Worlds helped him manage depression and anxiety from growing up in a small town as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. After getting his first VR headset in 2016, it was the first time he felt he could be who he is, connect with other diverse creators and build experiences where they felt truly safe.

That was the inspiration behind Mastercard’s True Self World, an ongoing inclusive space for the entire LGBTQ+ community and its allies, launched in celebration of Pride. True Self World gave Rhonda and Nathan the chance to create the sanctuary they personally sought.

Rhonda and Nathan shared their advice for getting started in Meta Horizon Worlds.

“Just start! Don’t worry about finding a specific lane, there are successful creators that do just about everything. There’s no wrong way to create. And don’t look for a seat at the table, build your own table—literally.” —Rhonda

“Experiment. Try a bunch. You may like something or be good at something you never thought of. And then just keep doing it. Develop skills and don’t give up. The platform has made it really easy to do just about anything.” —Nathan

Ashes2Ashes2 + Tellous, the duo who brought Jordan Peele’s NOPE to VR

Ashley "Ashes2Ashes2'' Briley, a CPA, teamed up with Matt “Tellous” Torres, a software engineer, after meeting in a Meta Horizon Worlds Diversity Jam. Both wanting to uplift diverse creators, they quit their day jobs to focus on VRinReview, a company they founded to help creators hone VR skills, create Worlds that reflect their views and partner with brands to build unique experiences.

VRinReview has collaborated on the Fender StratoverseTM and, most recently, NOPE World in partnership with Universal and Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. Together with creators Samantha Nunoo, Kevin Dixon and Meta’s Creative Shop, they brought elements of Jordan Peele’s latest film, NOPE, into virtual reality. The World incorporated easter eggs from across the Jordan Peele cinema verse—underscoring what his contribution to Black culture meant to them, while connecting their own experiences.

Ashley and Matt shared their advice for getting started in Meta Horizon Worlds.

“Come in and get started and give yourself permission to make mistakes. It’s also important to bring your own perspective to a build. Take your time and be intentional—think about your 'why' and what connections you want to make in the community.” —Ashley

“The Worlds you create are kind of like your business cards, but virtual reality allows it to be so much more dynamic. When you build a World, you want people to feel the heart of your creation. These experiences can be fun and also have meaning.” —Matt

Flutt3r, an LGBTQ+ creator who spearheaded Target’s Take Pride World

Some LGBTQ+ creators refer to Kiernan “Flutt3r” Pearce, a longtime web developer and stained glass/quilled paper artist, as “the origin of greatness” in Meta Horizon Worlds.

Jumping into Meta Horizon Worlds allowed Kiernan to be their true self.

“Meta Horizon Worlds has allowed me to become the real me. I am bisexual and transgender and transitioned within the first month of becoming a part of the Meta Horizon Worlds community. My avatar was the catalyst, as it could represent my true inner self. I was not trapped in my disabled, assigned gendered body.” —Kiernan

Kiernan led a team of creators to build Target’s Take Pride World for Pride Month. Spanning 3 sequential Worlds, Kiernan and crew developed an immersive interpretation of their collective journeys of self-discovery.

Since then, Kiernan too has begun to see VR as a growing business opportunity. Kiernan and Nathan “Skitter_” Crawford established Arc VR, where they work to lift up creators from diverse backgrounds.

Kiernan shared their advice for creators and businesses building in Meta Horizon Worlds: “For creators, my advice is to take time to dig into what the brand partner is looking for and be clear on the ultimate goal of the space. When you know that, you can more authentically connect your perspective with the brand’s vision. For businesses, trust the creators and use the opportunity to collaborate with experts to learn and understand more about the metaverse.”

The metaverse will unlock new ways we build community. As we work toward this future, it’s vital that diverse people and perspectives have a seat at the table from the beginning. These creators represent a growing community shaping the future of our virtual reality.