World's First AI Beauty Pageant Launches
This event boasts a lineup of AI-generated images and influencers vying for a share of the $20,000 prize pool.
The first Fanvue Miss Artificial Intelligence (AI) beauty contest has officially launched. Organized by the Fanvue World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs), this event boasts a lineup of AI-generated images and influencers vying for a share of the $20,000 prize pool.[1]
Contestants in the Fanvue Miss AI pageant will undergo evaluation across three distinct categories. Firstly, their appearance, along with their responses to a series of thought-provoking questions. Additionally, judges will assess the participants' adeptness in utilizing AI tools, including the incorporation of prompts and intricate visual detailing. Furthermore, contestants' social media influence will play a pivotal role, with engagement metrics and platform utilization serving as key factors in the evaluation process.
To enter the competition, participants must submit their AI creations along with responses to questions aimed at gauging their aspirations for societal betterment. Following a selection process, the pool of contestants will be narrowed down to a top 10, culminating in the announcement of the final three winners during an online awards ceremony. The winner of first place will receive a cash prize of $5,000 along with an exclusive Imagine Creator mentorship program valued at $3,000.
The runner-up will win complimentary enrollment in a $500 Imagine Education course, a $2,000 promotional package from Fanvue, and PR assistance valued at over $2,500.
The contestant in third place will be awarded a complimentary consulting call with Imagine Education valued at $500, along with a $500 promotional package from Fanvue and PR assistance exceeding $1,000.
The panel of judges comprises a diverse array of personalities, including Britain's pageant historian, Sally-Ann Fawcett. Notably, the panel includes AI model Emily Pelligrini, renowned for her inadvertent rise to fame, as well as Aitana Lopez, a virtual Spanish model whose lucrative endeavors have garnered widespread attention.
Columnist Arwa Mahdawi of The Guardian US critiques the emergence of AI beauty pageants in her recent piece, "‘Miss AI’ Crown: A Regressive Step in the Name of Progress." Mahdawi uses her own creation, "Madame Potato," a virtual contestant competing for the title of "Miss AI" and the associated $20,000 prize, to paint a vivid picture of this unsettling trend. [2]
Mahdawi expresses concern about the effects on societal beauty standards, particularly on impressionable young people exposed to unrealistic ideals. With the rise of AI influencers, the normalization of flawless appearances could further fuel industries like plastic surgery and cosmetics.
The potential ramifications of this trend extend beyond the confines of the competition, hinting at a future where AI models may replace human counterparts entirely. While some brands have committed to eschewing AI in favor of authenticity, the allure of perpetually youthful and controllable digital models remains potent.
The ascent of AI-generated influencers is reshaping the landscape of online marketing, posing a challenge to human influencers and prompting concerns about the future of the content creator economy.[3]
Among these virtual personas is Aitana Lopez, who boasts a social media following exceeding 200,000. Lopez garners attention by sharing selfies and endorsing brands like Olaplex and Victoria’s Secret, commanding payments of around $1,000 per promotional post.
These virtual influencers, crafted using AI tools, have proliferated within the $21 billion content creation industry. Their emergence has triggered apprehension among human influencers, who fear their livelihoods are under siege from digital counterparts. Professionals from a variety of fields share similar worries about the threat that generative AI technology poses by producing human-like content quickly.
Proponents of AI-generated influencers argue that they are merely disrupting an industry characterized by inflated costs and inefficiencies. High-profile collaborations between luxury brands and virtual personas, such as Kim Kardashian's KKW Beauty with Noonoouri and Louis Vuitton with Ayayi, underscore the growing acceptance of these digital avatars within mainstream marketing.