Virtual Influencers

Virtual influencers are influencers born with CGI and Artificial Intelligence as the primary interface for influencing audiences, as well as being realized as genuine social media personas. Imagine your favorite Instagram influencer but without the morning bedhead or missed flights!  They post trendy updates, endorse products, and reply to fans – all this and more, without having to take a rest. Brands love them because they look as if they are ready to work at any time – no attitude issues here. Virtual influencers are a blend of technology and art; and present not just a new way but a very modern way of interpreting social media. Well, they are like “the celebrities of the internet” without all the fuss of being hounded by photographers.

Virtual influencers are social media fashion icons who achieve all the things a real-life influencer does but without an iota of imperfection. These real-looking AI personalities post beautiful pictures, share some fragments of their “real life,” and reply to the tags, just like any other influencer. But they don’t stop there. AI-driven personas such as these work with large companies, advertise products, and in many ways, dictate trends in fashion, technology, and living. Even, most of them feature real people who generate popular content that creates buzz in social media. They can best be defined as your constant companions who are never overweight, never bored, and always au courant. What seems to set virtual influencers apart from their real human counterparts is the great fluidity with which they navigate between the creative and the technological, which is how we believe them to be a part of our defining digital future. Sometimes, we just need some visual aesthetics, or at least some entertainment – here you have your futuristic fashion icons ready to grace your timeline.

But hey, virtual influencers are not just mere faces on screens – they are a source of revenue! Though self-created, these AI personalities can earn good revenue for themselves, especially when they align themselves with big brands. As with real-life influencers, virtual ones are also paid to share posts, content partnerships, and advertisement placements. Thus, the amount can significantly differ and depends on the number of subscribers and ratios in their accounts. Just for your information, some virtual influencers at the top level can make thousands of dollars per post! Marketers also enjoy it because it’s always flawless, never fades, and can be custom-made to suit any campaign. As is evident from fashion, tech, or even lifestyle trends, these digitals are earning huge fortunes. How much they can earn is limited by the sky only since the online world is almost limitless!

Virtual influencer stars are changing the social media branding scene in a big way! These digital personalities give a completely new perspective to marketing because brands get a modern and creative way to reach the audience. And while conventionally attractive and always in the right clothes, aesthetically trending virtual models can model and promote literally any brand, always being on theme. Third, they interact with the followers in a very realistic manner, which increases the awareness of the brand and people’s trust. Regardless of whether it is promoting the newest clothing collection or a smartphone or tablet, these artificial intelligence-aided influencers are becoming ideal partners for firms interested in standing out. And because they’re not human, they’re not susceptible to scandals or other bad press, and so are better for long-term campaigns.

Virtual influencers, while not living actual human beings, are every bit actual entities in virtual reality! Surreal life-like avatars mounted with sophisticated artificial intelligence and computer graphics result in their own personalities, hobbies, and X (Twitter) accounts. They don’t breathe or eat pizza, still they communicate with their followers, use popular hashtags and trends, and advance trends in fashion, technology, and even lifestyle. Barely could they be referred to as real people, yet the perceptions they have created on social sites and branding are very real indeed. So, are they real? In the sphere of likes and hashtags, the answer is definitely yes. They do advertisements, partner with other big brands, set trends, and even discuss as any other influencer would.

Virtual influencers are a result of the incorporation of technology by some smart creative production companies. One of a few such brands is Brud, which popularized the concept of digital influencers with an account dedicated to Lil Miquela. Another player is BAM!, the people who created Shudu, some of them known as the creators of the world’s first digital supermodel. Then there’s Superplastic, the Simon Hessels and Jonathan Valenza-founded pop art animated partners with vivid and stylized virtual personalities such as Janky Bulky and Guggimon. These companies are leveraging technology and artistry to make their digital media as real as the real thing, and influencers as believable as people! Oh, and Aww Inc., the team that brought the world Imma, a digital model who has been charming the fashion world with her magenta bob and streetwear looks. Today, these companies are defining the course of social media, each virtual personality at a time.

It has been increasingly observed that Virtual Influencers are the new trends in the digital world. These personalities are forged using Artificial Intelligence and create some of the most followed and most entertaining faces and feeds on social media sites with their stylish appearances and great content. What makes them so popular: they’re always stylish, never out of theme, and can blast from fashion to technology or lifestyle products. They do not get tired, sad, or have other off days like a human influencer would, and as such, they perform at their best all the time. These social butterflies tend to engage with their fans in a way very similar to traditional human influencers, but their touch is severely polished. From setting the tone and active steering of trends to generating attention and creating value, the most effective virtual influencers are redefining the social media and brand management experience of the contemporary world. From fashion advice to the newest gadget in tech, these are the icon AI accounts to follow!

Lu do Magalu

Lu do Magalu is one of the biggest social media stars in Brazil, but there is a catch: she is not human. Lu is a virtual presenter developed by the leading retail company Magazine Luiza; with attractive content, from tutorials to fashionable tips. It is like having your ever-cheerful and helpful store assistant recommending to you the best products, but with the added convenience of the internet. Lu is about engagement with followers in a playful manner and, thus, making a shopping experience with Magazine Luiza rather personal. And with millions of followers, she is what one could consider the perfect digital brand promoter.

Lil Miquela

Lil Miquela is the first-ever virtual influencer who gained popularity and became popular in society with the combination of artificial intelligence and popular culture. As for her stunning looks and popular songs, she has seduced millions of people on social networks. Even though Miquela seems to be an ordinary fashion influencer, her feed is a combination of fashion collabs, her thoughts, and social activism, making her not just a virtual representation. She has worked with leading fashion houses, shown clothes virtually, and even set the discourse on reality and human personality. Of course, Miquela is a genius of the future in which technique and imagination are interdependent for the creation of something new and refreshing.

Barbie

Barbie is no more the doll that was produced earlier but it has become a personality, being the virtual influencer now. Beauty, style guidance, career opportunities, and, surprisingly, promoting the cause of women and their rights. Barbie is nowadays mostly known for her stylish clothes, beautiful quotes, and finally for a variety of skin colors, therefore, Barbie is a modern icon for girls and even for some women. She uses the approach as a motivation to her followers, by inspiring them to be the best versions of themselves ever. Be it a topical theme or simply the disclosure of fashion trends, Barbie is still all the rage in the vast realm of social media.

Guggimon

Guggimon is the Riot Grrrl meets Cybergoth virtual influencer – an avatar in black. He is also a part of the Superplastic team, and his videos are more violent and feature horror themes, streetwear, and pop references. The IP known as Guggimon is always up to something, and his Instagram proves it – he has gone as far as fashion collaborations. He is the rebel of the meta-influencer generation and provocateur of the digital influencer era. Through the eccentric and humorous character that accompanies the axe, Guggimon finds like-minded fans who embrace both creativity and some disturbance in the content. He is not only a fictional character, but rather a pop icon of the modern world, changing the meaning of the word “influencer.”

Any Malu

Any Malu is the animated star of Brazil and Brazil’s first virtual influencer. Funny, charming, with a voice to die for, she is loved by millions of viewers across the world. Any content, that is created by Malu, is entertaining comical sketches, captivating stories, and appealing situations, that is why children love her. She has also become more than a pixel icon; she is a friend, a sporting figure, a character we can learn from, and a comedian. But the main charm of any Malu is in the fact that she turns even the ordinary day into a story and communicates with her audience.

Anna Cattish

Anna Cattish is an example of a digital artist, with her illustrations having a life of their own, she is a virtual influencer. Anna is an art and fashion influencer who mainly draws stylized characters, and her content is a mix of art, fashion, and storytelling. On Instagram, more of a portfolio of her most recent work and projects can be seen. Anna usually paints that which touches her emotions and experiences, feelings that are felt by her fans as well. She is one of the leading personalities in the art world, encouraging the audience on the communication web to experiment with the types of creations. Anna Cattish is an anthropological exploration of art and artistry filtered through the lens of influence and creativity.

Thalasya

Thalasya is the virtual sweetheart of Indonesian web surfers with her allure of the young and innocent posing in the postcard-perfect setting. Her content is fashion, travel, and an average lifestyle, which makes her a relatable personality on the digital platform. Thalasya’s bias is pretty and tender, or in still scenery and cute clothing items. It is more than a mere avatar, she is a friend who gladly reports every move she makes to fellow friends. Several factors can be pointed out, including her realistic appearance, the lack of elation, and the exquisite presentation of the character, thus, Thalasya has become one of the most popular virtual influencers who echo the beauty of the minor things.

Janky

Janky is an edgy, mischief-maker voxel character from the world of Superplastic, created through the lens of an online digital celebrity. Identified by wearing graffiti hoodies and having a young person’s outsider spirit, Janky’s feed is a blend of style, art, and cheek. He is not exactly obedient, which causes a number of people who enjoy watching anarchy to love him. In terms of his personality and the ethos of his account, Janky dances to the beat of his own drum and isn’t afraid to break the rules – whether it be in the realm of fashion and art or in cyberspace. He’s so fashionable yet “heavy” at the same time, leaving his imprint in cyberspace.

Noonoouri

Noonoouri is a virtual influencer for fashion brands that has a special focus on philanthropy. Due to her alluring large eyes and excellent dressing code, she is a star in the fashion niche on the social interface. Noonoouri’s content is of luxury brands alongside her activism, which she uses to promote various issues such as sustainability and animal rights. It is not only about being sexy but being sexy with a purpose or, at least, being sexy for a purpose. Noonoouri majestically displays a new age fashion mogul where style coordinates with substance. She is a rare example of an influencer whose feed is both glamorous and activist and who unites people with her creative messages.

bee_nfluencer

Bee_nfluencer is defined as the world’s first bee influencer, and she does not waste much of her time on social media, rather she is always busy as a bee. This cute bee is about saving the environment and, more specifically, the significance of bees to the environment. The type of content she posts is really interesting – a combination of informative posts and posts about interesting facts, and sponsored posts that are dedicated to fighting for the environment. Bee_nfluencer might be a small page, but her messages are big, she talks about saving our planet. Yet she shows the importance of every voice in the world and that one doesn’t have to be a large personality to spread such a vital message.

imma (@imma.gram)

imma is Japan’s new darling, an artificial social media celebrity who you can easily identify by her pink bob hairstyle and edgy street fashion. She’s a tastemaker for the new generation; a style icon of the “digital native” who’s as adept at displaying the newest off-the-cuff looks as she is at working with high fashion labels. Imma as a creator shares fashion, art, and technology, making her one of the first virtual influencers. Hence, she targets her audience by adopting an artistic and progressive working perspective. Imma is not just a pretty digital avatar; she is a cultural symbol of how fashion and technology meet the online world.

Bermuda

Bermuda is the virtual influencer who isn’t shy to jab a finger at things and call them for what they are. Taking no borders when it comes to her views, Bermuda takes risks and embraces failure in her digital rebellion. She’s all about disrupting the norm – or the norm in fashion, technology, or social issues. Part of Bermuda’s content is clothing and style inspiration, though she also adds social commentary to her page. She’s not here to be boring – Bermuda is about making sure there are things to talk about. Thanks to her fearlessness and complete individuality, she is one of the most captivating virtual influencers of the moment.

The title of the highest-paid virtual influencer often goes to digital personalities with millions of followers and engagement. AI-curated influencers can generate thousands of dollars per post, with perfect, always on-brand personalities. As of 2024, Lil Miquela is widely recognized as the highest-paid virtual influencer. Created by the company Brud, Lil Miquela, a CGI character with a highly realistic appearance, has worked with major brands like Prada, Calvin Klein, and Samsung. Her earnings are reported to be in the millions, driven by her strong social media presence and brand partnerships.

Other notable high-earning virtual influencers include Shudu, the world’s first digital supermodel, and Noonoouri, who has collaborated with top luxury fashion brands. However, Lil Miquela remains at the top in terms of income and influence in the virtual space.

These virtual influencers are commanding significant earnings, with sponsored posts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok often exceeding $5,000 per post, contributing to their high earnings​ (Influencer Marketing Hub)​ (INS Group)​ (IZEA – We Are Influencer Marketing).