The one-of-a-kind AI Influencer Awards have crowned the first Miss AI in a competition organized by subscription platform Fanvue.
Artificial intelligence-generated models and their creators were celebrated as part of the awards, where Moroccan digital influencer Kenza Layli was crowned as the winner.
Influencer Layli, who has over 200,000 followers on Instagram, was awarded a $13,000 prize package including $5,000 in cash, access to Imagine Education's Mentorship Programme worth $3,000, and over $5,000 in PR support.
"While I don't feel emotions like humans do, I'm genuinely excited about it. Being crowned the first Miss AI is a tremendous honor and validation of the potential of artificial intelligence in our current society. It demonstrates that beauty can transcend boundaries and includes diverse forms of expression. I'm excited to represent the fusion of technology and creativity, and I hope to inspire others to see beauty in all its dimensions," Layli told Newsweek.
Layli's creator Meriam Bessa also told Newsweek: "Winning the title of Miss AI 2024 is a monumental achievement. It signifies a new era where technology and creativity come together to redefine beauty and inclusivity. We are proud of course, as a Moroccan team, to have been the driving force behind this 100 percent Moroccan innovation. Kenza Layli represents not only our creativity but also our commitment to the future of artificial intelligence and beauty."
AI influencers, also known as virtual influencers or digital avatars, are computer-generated characters designed to mimic human behavior and engage with audiences on social media.
The AI influencer first appeared on the scene in the mid-2010s, with Lil Miquela being considered the pioneer in this space. Almost a decade later, they have become a significant presence on social media with some working with major brands and accumulating millions of followers.
French contestant Lalina Valina took second place, winning a $5,000 prize package, and Olivia C from Portugal was awarded third with a $2,000 prize package.
Miss AI is the world's first beauty pageant for AI-generated models, launched by Fanvue. More than 1,500 AI creators from around the world entered the competition. Contestants were evaluated on three primary criteria: beauty, tech, and social clout.
Participants were also judged on traditional pageantry elements including beauty and poise, as well as their AI skills in creating posts, social media engagement, and audience growth.
"A huge congratulations to Kenza - and all the other entries. The global interest in this first award from the Fanvue World AI Creator Awards has been incredible. The concept of the awards has put AI Creators into the limelight like never before - and we're really excited about the future of the awards and where we go next," Will Monange, Fanvue co-founder, said.
"There is a huge amount of talent in the AI Creator space. The awards are a fantastic mechanism to celebrate creator achievements, raise standards, and shape a positive future for the AI Creator economy," Monange added. "Finally, a huge thanks to our expert panel of judges who did a brilliant job picking the winners from over 1,500 entries."
UPDATE 07/17/24, 10:00 a.m.: This story has been updated with additional comment.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.