Morocco’s Kenza Layli is world’s first Miss AI in virtual beauty pageant

Image credit: Kenza Layli/Instagram

The world of artificial intelligence (AI) and beauty merged in the first-ever Miss Artificial Intelligence beauty pageant. The competition, which featured 1,500 AI virtual women influencers, culminated in the crowning of the Moroccan virtual influencer Kenza Layli.

This world-first event was part of the World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs) and was hosted in collaboration with the content creation platform Fanvue, saw Kenza Layli take home the title and a $13,000 prize.

Inaugural AI beauty queen

Kenza Layli, developed by the Casablanca-based company L’Atelier Digital, was introduced as Morocco’s first AI-powered virtual character last December.

Modeled after the American virtual model Lil Miquela, Kenza Layli is a 33-year-old digital persona who communicates in Moroccan Arabic and shares insights into her daily life. She recently celebrated 200,000 followers on Instagram.

 

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A post shared by World AI Creator Awards (WAICA) (@waicas)

The creators of Kenza Layli aimed to present her as a symbol of a strong and modern Moroccan woman, promoting messages of peace and gender equality in Morocco, North Africa, and the Middle East.

 

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A post shared by Kenza Layli • كنزة ليلي (@kenza.layli)

Upon winning the pageant, Kenza Layli expressed her gratitude and excitement. “I am very grateful to have this opportunity to thank the creators of artificial intelligence and passionately defend the positive impact of artificial intelligence,” she said. “This was evidence of the power of innovation, collaboration, and raising the bar to shape our future.”

She also shared a video on Instagram, celebrating her victory and thanking her supporters.

 

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A post shared by Kenza Layli • كنزة ليلي (@kenza.layli)

The beauty pageant

The World AI Creators Awards (WAICAS) brought together 10 finalists from a pool of 1,500 participants, all created by teams from around the globe using AI programs like OpenAI’s DALL·E 3, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. The finalists were judged on beauty, technology, and clout, with most of the AI-generated women being prominent online influencers.

The judging panel included media advisor Andrew Bloch, beauty pageant historian Sally-Ann Fawcett, and two AI-generated influencers, Aitana Lopez and Emily Pellegrini.

The first runner-up, French virtual influencer Lalina, received a $5,000 prize, while the Portuguese virtual influencer Olivia C took the second runner-up spot with a $2,000 prize.

The WAICAS team emphasised that the event was about celebrating diversity and realism rather than perpetuating traditional beauty standards. “This isn’t about pushing unrealistic standards, but realistic creators that represent real people,” they stated.

AI influencers

AI influencers like Kenza Layli are at the forefront of digital engagement, particularly in regions with high digital connectivity. Alharith Alatawi, co-founder and CEO of Shaffra, highlighted the potential of AI influencers in the UAE’s highly connected landscape, noting their ability to offer targeted marketing that resonates with diverse demographics.

Alatawi said, “At Shaffra, we see AI influencers as a cutting-edge approach in digital engagement, especially pertinent in the UAE’s highly connected digital landscape. With over 95 per cent smartphone penetration and nearly universal social media usage, AI influencers offer unparalleled targeted marketing capabilities, which can resonate well with the diverse demographics of our region.”

“We believe AI influencers should augment human creativity in marketing strategies while upholding ethical standards and meeting the evolving digital expectations of UAE consumers.”

Challenges of AI pageants

AI beauty pageants have a significant role in society by showcasing technological advancements and fostering innovation. Alatawi pointed out that these events align with the UAE’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, which aims to position the country as a leader in AI adoption and innovation. However, he stressed the importance of transparency and ethical use to maintain audience trust.

He added, “One primary concern is maintaining transparency and preventing misinformation to ensure users are aware they are interacting with AI, not a real person. This transparency is crucial for upholding trust and ethical standards in digital interactions. Globally, two in five consumers prefer brands that are transparent about AI interactions.”

He also addressed the challenges of creating human-like AI personalities, such as ensuring transparency to prevent misinformation and addressing cultural sensitivities to avoid biases.

“Additionally, it’s essential to address cultural sensitivities and unique values in the UAE when designing AI personalities to avoid unintentional cultural biases. Privacy and data security are paramount, necessitating robust measures to protect user information in compliance with local regulations.”

AI and beauty

The Miss Artificial Intelligence Beauty pageant not only highlighted the capabilities of AI technology but also underscored the potential for AI to influence various sectors. Alatawi highlights that up to 91 per cent of UAE businesses are exploring AI, and hence these events serve as important platforms to stimulate public interest and engagement in AI and machine learning. “Beyond their immediate impact, these initiatives inspire new applications across critical sectors such as smart cities, education, retail, transportation, and healthcare, significantly to economic growth, sustainability, and improved quality of life.”

As AI continues to evolve, the collaboration between AI creators and traditional industries offers a glimpse into a world where technology and creativity come together to shape new and exciting possibilities.

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