Wait… That Person Isn’t Real?!
It’s 2 a.m., and you’re feeling sleepy while looking through Instagram. All of a sudden, this beautiful girl posts from a fancy LA cafe and has perfect skin and style. You double-tap because she really does look amazing.
However, her posts seem odd; they’re almost too perfect. That strange feeling gets stronger as you keep scrolling through her pictures. Then someone drops a bombshell in the comments: she’s not even real after all.
Your brain literally can’t process it for a few seconds because these animated influencers look more human than most actual humans on social media.
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So What Exactly Are Animated Influencers?
Probably have seen them without realizing it. The Instagram posts, selfies, and celebrities who always look like they’re having a great time.
Animated influencers are computer-made, fake people that look like real people, and they spend all of their time on social media sites like TikTok and Instagram.
But, they do more than just look nice. In fact, these digital personas:
- Post daily content like any other influencer
- Respond to what real people say.
- Help big companies sell their products.
- Have a lot of fans who love them
- Get a lot of money from partnerships.
Top Best Animated Influencers
These animated influencers have millions of real fans, and they’re making serious cash.
1. Lil Miquela (@lilmiquela)
Lil Miquela has been around since 2016 and pretty much started this whole crazy virtual characters trend.
- 2.5 million Instagram followers
- Makes around $10 million every year
- 19-year-old Brazilian-American girl (digitally)
- Lives in Los Angeles
- Works with Calvin Klein, Prada, and Samsung
Most of the time, she posts about music, fashion, and even fights for social causes. She also puts out her own songs. Even fans are so worried about her relationships and life drama because her creators gave her such a rich personality.
2. Qai Qai
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian put together this confident doll for their daughter Olympia, but Qai Qai built her own large fan base on her own.
She has a bold, self-assured personality that runs in the family and shows up at big tennis events and social events.
It might be interesting that she stands for family values and female empowerment while also building her own brand. Watching her do well is like seeing a family member become famous because of their own talent and charm.
3. Shudu (@shudu.gram)
When Shudu came along as the first digital supermodel in the world, everything changed. Cameron-James Wilson was the one who took the picture of her in 2017.
- Works with Balmain and Fenty Beauty
- Concentrates on showing Black beauty
- Has that look that can’t be achieved perfectly
- Questions the usual rules for modeling
Fashion magazines loved her. She looks great while talking about serious issues like diversity, which shows that animated influencers can do both. Also, brands love working with her because she is the future of modeling.
4. Bermuda
Bermuda takes drama to a whole new level, and to be honest, it’s pretty fun. The same people who came up with Lil Miquela came up with this rebellious character who can’t help but get into trouble.
She has this edgy, bad-girl vibe that draws you into her world in a way that you can’t explain. One minute she’s throwing serious shade at other virtual influencers, and the next she’s creating crazy storylines that keep people coming back for more.
Every bit of chaos she adds to their feeds drives her followers crazy. To close the discussion, we should say that watching her do things is like watching your favorite reality show.
5. Lu do Magalu (@magazineluiza)
Lu has been Brazil’s sweetheart since 2009, way before most people even knew what a virtual influencer was.
- Over 14 million followers across all platforms
- Works for Magazine Luiza retail company
- Explains products in simple Portuguese
- Partners with Samsung, Microsoft, and Chevrolet
- Acts like your helpful friend who knows everything about tech
She’s not out here trying to be a glamorous supermodel or anything. Lu only helps people learn about tech and discover great deals. This digital persona totally shows how brands can really connect with their customers in a genuine way.
6. Imma (@imma.gram)
Her style is so one-of-a-kind that people try to mimic her vibe. Imma‘s crew at Aww Inc. created a virtual character that totally resonates with Japanese culture but is cool for everyone.
- 393k Insta followers
- Awesome pink bob haircut
- Teams up with IKEA, Gucci, and other big names
- Shows up at the actual Paris Fashion Week events
- Blends Japanese vibes with worldwide trends
7. Seraphine
Riot Games made Seraphine for League of Legends in 2020, but she became popular outside of the game faster than anyone thought she would. Now she has millions of fans in both the music and gaming worlds.
Like any other well-known artist, she puts out real songs that go up the charts and works with real musicians.
The best part is that she began as a character in a video game, but now she easily connects video games and mainstream entertainment.
8. Aitana Lopez (@fit_aitana)
Spanish company The Clueless created Aitana to look so realistic that people constantly debate whether she’s human or not.
- 255,000 Instagram followers
- Earns around €3,000-10,000 monthly
- 25-year-old Spanish woman’s appearance
- Based in Barcelona
- Focuses on fitness, fashion, and travel
She represents a new wave of AI-generated influencers that are almost impossible to distinguish from real humans.
9. Milla Sofia
Finland wanted their own virtual star, so it made Milla Sofia in the clean, simple Scandinavian style that makes Instagram feeds look effortlessly chic.
She has 206,000 devoted followers on social media and lives her digital life in Helsinki. Milla works with Finnish and European brands while keeping that classy Nordic vibe.
10. Kyra (@kyraonig)
India joined the world of virtual influencers with Kyra in January 2022, and she’s been killing it ever since.
- Started in January 2022
- 255,000 people already follow her on Instagram
- She calls herself a “dream chaser, model, and traveler.”
- Works with Amazon Prime Video.
- Shows the lifestyle of young Indians
Kyra connects with people in her own community and shows that cartoon leaders can truly reflect any culture.
11. Rozy (@rozy.gram)
Sidus Studio-X created Rozy in 2020 to tap into South Korea’s massive beauty and entertainment industry. She’s got that K-pop aesthetic down perfectly and never has bad skin days or aging concerns.
- Has that popular K-pop aesthetic
- Works with Korean beauty brands
- Embodies Korean beauty standards
12. Code Miko (@codemiko)
Youna Kang made something completely different with Code Miko. She is, in fact, a glitchy, playable streamer who lives in the world of video games.
- She focuses on gaming and has almost a million Twitch fans.
- She does interactive live streams
- Talks to real streams and famous people
- Looks absolutely cyberpunk
- Mixes games with content from influencers.
13. Kizuna AI
This animated girl showed up on YouTube in 2016, long before anyone had heard of the word “VTuber,” and since then, she has changed everything. Kizuna AI didn’t just join the world of virtual influencers; she made it from scratch.
She gained over 4 million subscribers just by being real and fun and believes she’s the “world’s first virtual YouTuber”. Also, her fun personality and gaming content opened doors for thousands of other creators who followed her lead.
14. Daisy
When YOOX luxury fashion made Daisy, they decided that human models were so last season.
This virtual fashionista lives the high-end life that most of us can only dream about, but she doesn’t have to deal with real expense reports.
Even better is that she goes to fashion capitals without getting jet lag, shows off designer trends like a pro, and meets other digital personalities at private virtual events.
What makes her approach so great is that Daisy reminds us of that fashionable friend who always knows what’s in style, but she’s actually made to promote the brand.
15. Any Malu
Any Malu is a great example of how being fake can be the most real thing you can do. She is a Brazilian artist and went all out with her cartoon style, and got more than 3 million YouTube subscribers who love it.
It makes perfect sense for her to work with Cartoon Network because her content is aimed at kids who grew up watching cartoons.
16. Noonoouri (@noonoouri)
Noonoouri is originally from Germany but is completely living it up in Paris online.
- Those big anime-style eyes that totally catch your eye
- Teaming up with Dior, Versace, and other fancy brands
- Looks super cute and doll-like!
But she’s not just pretty. Noonoouri talks about environmental stuff and sustainability on her platform. Joerg Zuber, the mastermind behind her, wanted to prove that virtual characters can entirely rock style while also being aware of social issues.
17. APOKI
A rabbit becoming a pop star sounds silly until you listen to APOKI‘s music and see that she’s really good.
This virtual artist from South Korea has 1.7 million followers on different platforms and makes songs that people really like to listen to.
She sings in Korean, Japanese, and English, and she mixes K-pop with hip-hop and EDM beats. Those cute bunny ears aren’t just for show; she also holds virtual concerts.
18. Lechat
Lechat figured out early on that cat ears and a love of K-pop are the best things for TikTok success. She makes dance videos that go viral and talks to her fans like they’re old friends.
Fans of anime and Korean music will find her sweet, innocent personality and those signature cat ears to be very appealing.
19. Ion Gottlich
This guy is so serious about cycling and is like he cares more about it than most people do about their jobs.
Ion has a very muscular body and treats every bike ride like it’s the Tour de France, but he makes things fun instead of scary.
Ion’s over-the-top heroic look and real fitness tips make for a great mix of comedy and motivation.
20. B (Stand for Bee)
This tiny bee has taken on the huge job of protecting the environment, and she’s doing it with nothing but charm and hard work.
B works with eco-friendly brands like Bumble Fit and Guerlain and spreads the word about bee conservation in the most adorable way possible.
She is the first official “beenfluencer” on Instagram, which means she is cute and sends a strong message about the environment.
How Are These Digital People Even Created?
Creating these animated influencers is similar to creating a never-ending film with live characters on Instagram.
The whole process blends marketing, technology, and art in ways that weren’t possible only a few years ago.
Who Makes These Virtual Stars? It takes a whole team of gifted individuals that collaborate for months to create a single digital persona:
- 3D artists spend 3 to 6 months creating their faces, bodies, and attire.
- Programmers build the AI that makes them “smart” and able to chat
- It takes weeks for writers to develop their personalities and backstories.
- Social media managers run their daily accounts like Lil Miquela’s team
- Marketing professionals organize multimillion-dollar brand partnerships.
- The majority of teams consist of 10–20 full-time employees working on a single character.
Why Are Brands Going Absolutely Crazy for Animated Influencers?
Brands started paying attention to Lil Miquela around 2018 when she got millions of likes without any drama or problems. That’s when the light bulb went on. They love animated influencers because they
have full control over every message
- No chance of scandals or bad press
- Can work all day long, every day, without taking breaks
- Can show up anywhere in the world immediately
- Doesn’t get sick, tired, or cranky.
One of the first big brands to do it was Calvin Klein. The campaign went viral in 2019 when they showed Lil Miquela next to real model Bella Hadid.
Other brands looked at those numbers and said, “We need this too.”
Do Animated Influencers Really Make Money?
The money part of this whole thing is just crazy.
Brand partnerships bring in about $10 million a year for Lil Miquela. AND that’s more than what most famous influencers make.
How Much They Really Cost:
- Lil Miquela’s pricing is $10,000 to $50,000 for each sponsored post
- $100,000 to $250,000 per post for human mega-influencers
Brud, which made Lil Miquela, got $125 million in funding because investors saw the potential.
Lu from Magazine Luiza also earns millions of dollars in direct sales, and that’s because followers really do buy things when she tells them to. Moreover, her engagement rates are often higher than those of human influencers.
What Companies Are Working With Animated Influencers?
The Calvin Klein x Lil Miquela campaign changed everything, and followers couldn’t stop talking about how they put her next to Bella Hadid. In just a few weeks, the campaign reached 100 million people.
Meanwhile, the Balmain x Shudu line broke the rules of the fashion industry. It was a fully digital model wearing real clothes in a big luxury ad campaign.
Also, the whole campaign for Prada x Multiple Virtual Models was made up of animated influencers, and there are no human models.
And in the end, Lu from Magazine Luiza might be the biggest success story. She helps customers understand products, answers their questions, and makes sales happen.
What’s the Future of Animated Influencers?
This is just the start, and animated influencers are going to have a crazy future.
Soon, technology will be so advanced that you won’t be able to tell the difference between a real person and a digital one. We’re talking about AI-generated influencers that look so real that they fool everyone.
What’s Next:
- Every big brand will have its own virtual mascot.
- Real-time conversations with fans
- Live events and concerts with virtual characters
- Connecting with VR experiences and metaverse platforms
Businesses are already spending millions on this technology. For example, tech giants like Meta and Google are making tools to make it even easier and cheaper to create digital avatars.
We could see virtual influencers running for office, being in movies, or hosting talk shows.
