We're all guilty of choosing online avatars that represent our hotter selves, and this Gabriel Jones shoot for the Urbania Magazine social media issue is a shocking editorial that depicts this phenomenon.
In the images above, an elderly woman poses as a stunning, busty redhead, while a geeky pimple-faced teen poses as a buff male model. Most shocking of all, however, is the last image, in which an older male dons the avatar of an innocent little girl.
Implications - This stunning photo shoot was assembled by a crack team of talented people. The art direction is courtesy of Simon Beaudry of the Bos Agency, the styling was done by Melissa Matos, and hair & make=up was completed by Amelie Bruneau-Longpre.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Virtual Identity Transformation
- This shocking photo shoot highlights the trend of people creating online avatars that don't represent their actual selves.
- Fantasy Self-representation
- The Gabriel Jones shoot for Urbania Magazine reveals the trend of individuals using online avatars to portray a more idealized version of themselves.
- Social Media Persona Alteration
- The images in this editorial expose the trend of people adopting different personas on social media platforms to project a desired image.
Where This Applies
- Fashion and Lifestyle
- This photo shoot offers disruptive innovation opportunities for fashion brands and lifestyle companies to tap into the desire for transformation and self-expression through online avatars.
- Digital Marketing and Advertising
- The trend of virtual identity transformation showcased in this shoot presents new avenues for digital marketing and advertising agencies to explore targeted campaigns and messaging strategies.
- Technology and Online Platforms
- Technology companies and online platforms can take advantage of the fantasy self-representation trend by developing tools and features that allow users to easily create and customize their virtual identities.
