The world’s first AI-generated beauty pageant has finally unveiled its shortlist of completely fake models – and they’re frighteningly realistic.
A staggering 1,500 computerised figures were judged on their realism, technicalities and clout in the futuristic World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs) launched last month – a dystopian event marking 185 years of pageant history. Now, after much deliberation, the judging panel has announced its top 10 – and they’re all vying for the £16,000 ($20,000) prize.
“The awards have shown how engaged creators in the AI space are, and the standard of the shortlist is nothing short of incredible,” Will Monange, co-founder at Fanvue, explained. “We estimate there’s around 10,000 AI Creators across the world, but what the awards have done is uncover creators none of us were aware of that have compelling backstories, along with talented creators behind them creating content for their fans.”
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(Image: Olivia C)
“And that’s the beauty of the AI creator space – it’s enabling creative people to enter the creator economy with their AI-generated creations without having to be the face themselves. The judges have had their work cut out assessing all the entrants and we’re looking forward to the final winners being announced at the end of the month.”
Fanvue is smashing it as the go-to hub for AI-generated content creators, with predictions that this digital economy will rocket past the $1billion mark by 2024. The platform’s got a roster of spookily realistic creators from across the globe, including Morocco, France, and India, reports the Mirror.
Take ‘Portuguese’ Olivia C, a completely virtual globetrotter who’s racked up more than 10,600 Instagram followers (@oliviaislivinghigh). She’s chuffed to bits about being in the running for what’s dubbed the tech world’s ‘Oscars’, saying she’s keen to ‘[pave] the way for a future where technology fosters connection’.
“They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” she said. “WAICAs is an opportunity to explore the new frontiers of this truth. It’s an honour to be a part of it.”
(Image: Kenza Layli)
Then there’s Kenza Layli, a Morocco-based family blogger avatar with 192,000 followers on Instagram (@kenza.layli). She’s aiming to use AI to ‘contribute to the empowerment of women in Morocco and the Middle East’.
She said: “I’m honoured to be selected among the top 10 AI influencers globally. Powered by AI, I instantly engage in seven languages on Instagram and TikTok, guiding people in their daily lives as a true virtual coach.
“This recognition inspires me to continue pushing the boundaries of digital interaction and showcasing the incredible potential of AI in transforming social media and personal coaching.”
The shortlisted beauties are now battling it out for a spot in the top three, with the winners set to be unveiled at a virtual bash later this month. The panel of judges includes two cyber sensations, Emily Pellegrini and Atiana Lopez, both famed for their eerily realistic digital personas that went viral last year.
Joining the AI stunners on the judging panel will be none other than Lord Alan Sugar’s PR guru, Andrew Bloch, and the UK’s one and only pageant buff, Sally Ann Fawcett, who’s also been the head judge at Miss Great Britain for a decade.
Sally Ann said: “Being part of the world’s first AI pageant has been a fantastic experience… I was fascinated to see the sort of entries we’d get into this contest. The realism of each contestant and their individual stories and what they’re doing to be a positive influence on the world really stood out to me.”
The champ of Miss AI is set to bag a cool £4,000 ($5,000) in cash and a mentorship programme valued at £2,000 ($3,000). The silver medallist will nab a swanky promotional deal worth £1,600 ($2,000) plus a spot on an exclusive creator course. Third place will snag a consultancy chat with Fanvue and a £400 ($500) promo bundle.
Below are the other contenders vying for the crown:
Anne Kerdi, France, 9,800 followers (@annekerdi)
(Image: Anne Kerdi)
Bio: “Anne’s primary goal is to promote the French region of Brittany. She presents Brittany in as many aspects as possible: tourism, history, culture, events, gastronomy, and more. She aims to democratise AI by demonstrating its capabilities in visuals, text, audio, and video.
“She is the ambassador for Océanopolis acts, a fund for ocean conservation and preservation and is also part of the Ar Seiz Avel committee, an exhibition of artists taking place in the Brittany region in July 2024. She has become a regional figure, and for many, she is even seen as the ambassador of the region.”
Zara Shatavari, India, 5,100 followers (@zarashatavari)
(Image: Zara Shatavari)
Bio: “Zara Shatavari was created to serve as the influential face of the natural supplement product ‘Hermones’ designed to address women’s hormonal imbalances. Driven by commitment to leverage technology for societal well-being, the creators have utilised AI and Zara to produce a wealth of informative content elucidating the root causes and implications of hormonal imbalances.
“They are now also developing an AI-based self-diagnostic system. Through her advocacy, ‘Zara’ aims to break down barriers to healthcare, and has been designated the title of ‘PCOS and depression warrior’.”
Aiyana Rainbow, Romania, 3,200 followers (@aiyana_rainbow)
(Image: Aiyana Rainbow)
Bio: “Aiyana is a voice for LGBT acceptance, promoting love and diversity in all forms. She embodies inclusivity, advocating for equality and understanding. Aiyana stands for a world where every voice is heard and valued, fostering empathy and respect for all. The creator utilises Chat GPT to craft highly detailed descriptions and prompts to create the images of Aiyana using LeonardoAI.”
Lalina, France, 93,200 followers (@viva_lalina)
(Image: Lalina)
Bio: “Lalina’s creator was curious to see if they could create something as realistic as possible. They gradually developed their own artistic vision. An important aspect for the creator is that 100% of the photos are generated by them; one of their goals is to protect their creations and intellectual property.
“Lalina believes her ultimate goal as an influencer is to facilitate collaboration and promote understanding among different cultures and viewpoints. She aims to leverage this influence to promote empathy, tolerance, and inclusion.”
Seren Ay, Turkey, 11,300 followers (@ai.serenay)
(Image: Seren Ay)
Bio: “Seren Ay is the first AI brand ambassador in Turkey and her creators go through an extensive process using three AI programmes to create her image with the ability to move her face onto different base photos showcasing her in various male dominated job roles, travels through time educating followers, venturing across the globe and even cosplaying characters from pop culture. Seren regularly promotes and champions Turkish history and national holidays.”
Asena Ilik, Turkey, 29,200 followers (@aisenailik)
(Image: Asena Ilik)
Bio: “Asena’s goal is to show the world that such a model can become an influencer with the help of imagination, stunning visuals and a sense of entertainment, not by selling sex. Asena has a style, favourite places, favourite cars and a carefully created personality within her content.”
Eliza Khan, Bangladesh, 13,300 followers (@elizavaloo)
(Image: Eliza Khan)
Bio: “Eliza Khan is one of Bangladesh’s first AI influencers. She’s designed to be quirky, just like any of us, designed to be relatable and realistic. She’s also a fashionista, keeping up with the latest Gen Z trends and aesthetics. Eliza’s dream is about creating a world where everyone feels valued and treated fairly, fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society.
“The creator goes through an extensive process of image editing and refining to create diverse content for social media.”
Ailya Lou, Brazil, 10,800 followers (@ailyalou)
(Image: Ailya Lou)
Bio: “Ailya is a Japanese-Afro-Brazilian artist, focused on post-photography and performance. She was initially created to produce a series of special film projects where she will be an actress incorporating many characters connected to African diaspora narrative.
“Her lifestyle is very connected to Brazilian culture between Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and São Paulo, but she also frequents Tokyo and follows the fashion seasons in Europe. Ailya is created 100% using text based prompts fed into AI software and is not retouched in any way after image generation.”
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