Miquela Sousa is a nineteen-year-old half-Brazillian, half-Spanish model and singer, whose presence is contained exclusively online on Instagram as she is the first virtual fashion influencer. Despite the privation of a corporeal self, Lil Miquela attends fashion events, advertises Prada, Chanel and Supreme and even releases her own music—her debut single 'Not Mine' hit number eight on Spotify Viral in August 2017.
Based in L.A., the virtual avatar "held" an interview with Business of Fashion about her dreams, beliefs and future aspirations to be a model. Although virtual reality is not a new concept and bands like Gorillaz have created characters of themselves, it is exciting to think about what mark a virtual fashion influencer would have on the industry, the "ideal" image and Instagram's platform in general.
Photo Credits: Instagram
Virtual Fashion Influencers
Miquela Sousa is Instagram's First Virtual Fashion Icon
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Influencer Marketing - Creating virtual influencers can change the influencer marketing landscape by allowing companies to use digital models for advertising.
2. Virtual Pop Stars - Virtual pop stars have the potential to disrupt the music industry by blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.
3. Virtual Reality Runways - Virtual reality runways may change the future of fashion events by making them more accessible to a wider audience.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - The fashion industry can harness the power of virtual influencers to reach younger audiences in a more innovative way.
2. Music - The music industry has the opportunity to use virtual pop stars to create new and exciting performances and merchandise.
3. Marketing and Advertising - The creation and use of virtual influencers can revolutionize the marketing and advertising industry by offering a more unique and technologically advanced approach to advertising.