A Computer-Generated Fashion Icon?

20 years ago, people expected the future to be full of flying cars, mind reading devices, taxi-rockets to visit space with friends and family from time to time… we don’t have any of those crazy evolutionary technologies, but what we do have is this: a computer-generated influencer… and we’re not deceived at all, quite the contrary!

This virtual avatar is named Miquela Sousa, better known by her Instagram username @lilmiquela. She wears Chanel, Prada, Schouler, Vetements, Supreme, Proenza and Vans. She also works with fashion magazines and promotes social causes.

Even better? A background was made up for Miquela to make her more ‘human’. According to her inventors, she’s a 19-year-old model and musician, has Brazilian/Spanish origins but is based in Los Angeles. Her Instagram account contains pictures of her attending events like ComplexCon and meeting celebrities, some memes and inspirational quotes. She even uses her platform to support social causes including Black Lives Matter and transgender rights.

The avatar even has a song called "Not Mine" which reached number 8 on Spotify Viral in August 2017.

However, Miquela isn’t the only virtual model in the world. The fashion industry made up virtual avatars since 2013! Louis Vuitton's Marc Jacobs had designed tour costumes for virtual avatar Hatsune Miku, a sixteen-year-old Japanese singer who performs her concert onstage as an animated projection hologram and has collaborated with Lady Gaga and Pharrell.