The Tomahawk Steak Challenge

"Hello everyone, Kate here! Welcome to Kate Devours All!"

Kate beamed as she began her day's content on YouTube. Between the camera and performer sat a large spread of broasted poultry, mashed potatoes, corn, and a huge cup of cola.

"Today we have a mukbang," she called her performance where she would eat enormous amounts of food on camera and project her thoughts to thousands of watchers, "to stretch my stomach...to prepare to compete for the current season. Let's get started!"

As she clutched the golden breast and began to eat, she watched closely as the counter accelerated. Many who loved to watch her eat logged onto her stream. "Some of you requested a meal from the newest restaurant down the street, Red Rooster's. So far, the food tastes really flavorful."

Kate looked forward to at least ten thousand onlookers for her mukbangs as she was used to. She kept a sharp eye on the counter. Seven hundred...one thousand...two thousand...two-and-a-half thousand. But then, after a half-hour, the counter paused. Her face showed joy, but worry was at her core.

Where are my watchers? She thought as she told mundane tales of her day at the local shops, where she bought fancy purses and new shoes.

Then, a chatter typed a message. "@Kate Devours All: The Aspen Food Pro Show’s on now too. Her mukbang's a lot larger!"

"Aspen's on? Are you for real?"

Her chat responded, "Yes."

Kate rolled her forest green eyes.

Her chat told her, "She has a Tomahawk steak too!"

"NO!"

Aspen's channel posted much the same content as Kate's - mukbangs and contests where people competed to see who could consume large meals the fastest. Aspen was an up-and-comer and Kate was a veteran of food sports, and they possessed a shared fan base.

Kate and Aspen once got along very well, and even hung out face to face as both were from Atlanta. Aspen even looked up to Kate as her mentor, and they guest-starred on each other's shows. Kate had the largest food sports channel on YouTube. Aspen's channel was newer and much smaller, but she saw growth as well. They cooperated and got along well. But that all changed last summer.