It is sometimes tempting to discard music idols as cookie-cutter enterprises whose ranks are filled with identical-looking young women.
But at least they are flesh and blood. The models of the future may well not be.
Digitally created models or even androids might be the faces of major commercial brands one day. After all, they don’t age, nor is there the risk of your brand ambassador landing herself in hot water with a clumsily worded tweet or drugs arrest.
The cosmetics brand Kate has released a 30-second commercial with an innovative lineup of talent: two virtual models (imma and Ria) and an android model (Saori).
Hot? Too perfect-looking? Uncanny valley territory? The jury’s certainly out for now but it’s surely significant that a major cosmetics brand is employing such innovative tactics that challenge our concepts of beauty.
The nonhuman models are promoting Kate’s Real Cover Liquid foundation.
We previously wrote about imma when she first attracted attention in 2019. She made her “debut” in 2019, as did Ria. They both have large followers on Instagram, especially imma. Saori made her first appearance at Tokyo Game Show in 2017.
We already have fully digital music idols like Hatsune Miku or even an AKB48-style supergroup. Will our real gravure idols be next? Are the days of living, breathing porn stars numbered?
