Discover The Top 12 Virtual Influencers for 2024 – Listed and Ranked!

Did you know virtual influencers are slowly taking over social media and advertising? While we won’t be seeing human influencers getting replaced by AI just yet, at the rate it’s going, virtual influencers may become as popular—if not more popular—as traditional influencers. 

If you’re still wondering what a virtual influencer is, think of your usual influencers, but computer-generated. Virtual influencers are digital characters or avatars given a personality by their creators and made to act and look like any normal influencer would.

Think of your favorite fictional character but with an Instagram or TikTok account. Imagine Pikachu sharing selfies while grocery shopping or hanging out with Cristiano Ronaldo. Or Barbie sharing reels of her day-to-day life—oh wait—she’s one of the virtual influencers we’ll be introducing in this guide.

According to our latest AI Marketing Benchmark Report, 51.9% of marketers are likely to incorporate AI-generated avatars into their future marketing campaigns.

Meanwhile, according to Christopher Travers, the founder of VirtualHumans.org, virtual influencers can do anything that human influencers can do, but with more control and engagement. In the dynamic world of influencer marketing and as AI technologies continue to advance, this could be an advantage for virtual influencers and beneficial to the brands they represent. 

But are virtual influencers just a passing trend, or are they here to stay? Let’s explore the top virtual influencers and how they’re currently shifting the influencer landscape.

Types of Virtual Influencers

Virtual influencers are computer-generated influencers that exist primarily in the digital world. There are different types of virtual influencers. The three primary ones are highly realistic avatars, animated models, and non-human virtual influencers. 

The highly realistic avatars are designed to closely resemble a person. The animated human types appear as humans, but their features are more stylized, exaggerated, or cartoon-like. Non-human virtual influencers can be anything that doesn’t resemble a human figure. 

Virtual influencers are typically created and managed by creative agencies or brands. They’re used as a way of promoting the agency or brand and engaging with audiences on social media platforms. With virtual influencers, brands gain greater control over their image and benefit from consistency in messaging. 

Top 12 Virtual Influencers for 2024

1. Lu do Magalu (@magazineluiza)

Follower Statistics: 14 million followers on Facebook, 7.3 million followers on TikTok, 7.1 million followers on Instagram

Unique Character Traits: Friendly and relatable brand ambassador of Magazine Luiza

Created By: Frederico Trajano, the CEO of Magazine Luiza

Lu do Magalu is the most-followed virtual influencer. Currently, she is also the virtual human with the most visibility in the world, making it easy to understand why she would top this list. 

She boasts 14 million followers on Facebook, 7.3 million followers on TikTok, 7.1 million followers on Instagram, more than 2.8 million subscribers on YouTube, and 1.3 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). While she has the most followers among all the virtual influencers worldwide, her reach and followers are mostly limited to her homeland, Brazil.

Lu is the creation of Frederico Trajano, the CEO of Magazine Luiza, one of the biggest retail companies in Brazil. She made her first appearance in 2009 on behalf of the magazine, to market iBlogTV on YouTube. Since then, she has been featured in product reviews, and unboxing videos and she has also shared software tips on behalf of this retail giant.

Some of the biggest brands she’s collaborated with include Red Bull, MAC, Samsung, and Intel. She even appeared on the front page of Vogue Brazil back in 2022.

2. Lil Miquela (@lilmiquela)

Follower Statistics: 3.4 million TikTok followers, 2.5 million Instagram followers

Unique Character Traits: Virtual model and singer

Created By:  Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou of Brud

Miquela Sousa, better known as Lil Miquela, is a virtual robot model who has worked with some of the top fashion brands like Prada, Dior, and Calvin Klein. Besides being a virtual model, she’s a singer, too, and has released several songs after her 2017 single, “Not Mine.” In 2020, Miquela debuted her first music video called “Hard Feelings” at Lollapalooza’s online festival in the same year. Interestingly, she also made it to TIME’s 25 Most Influential People on the Internet in 2018 despite her not being a real person.

This freckled Brazilian-American beauty is the brainchild of Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou, the co-founders of Brud, a Los Angeles-based company. Miquela has 3.4 million TikTok followers, 2.5 million Instagram followers dubbed as “Miquelites”, and around 29,000 followers on X. In one of her Instagram posts this 2024, Miquela talked about wanting to turn older. Created as a 19-year-old virtual influencer, her Instagram bio now reads “21-year-old robot.”  

While she’s still popular today, interest in her has dwindled a bit, as shown by a slight drop in her engagement over the years.

3. Barbie (@barbie)

Follower Statistics: 12.4 million subscribers on YouTube, 3.5 million followers on Instagram, 2.1 million followers on TikTok

Unique Character Traits: Empowering and fashionable

Created By:  Mattel

Barbie needs no introduction. It was only a matter of time before this blond-haired beauty from the late 1950s took to social media to dazzle more fans. Her biggest following is on Facebook, but she also has huge followings on other platforms, particularly on YouTube. In 2015, Mattel launched Barbie’s YouTube channel, where she vlogged about what’s inside her closet and shared life advice.

She boasts 12.4 million subscribers on YouTube, 3.5 million followers on Instagram, 2.1 million followers on TikTok, nearly 750,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and over 380,000 followers on X. For example, her Instagram post in support of the Black Lives Matter movement received over 40,000 likes, while her recent post honoring the late Mexican music icon, Juan Gabriel gained over 135,000 likes.

Barbie is all about promoting inclusivity, and this is evident in her partnership with the organization National Down Syndrome Society, launching a doll with Down syndrome. Other brands she has collabed with include American Foundation for the Blind, Nyx Cosmetics, Airbnb, and more.

4. Guggimon (@guggimon)

Follower Statistics: 11.7 million followers on his joint TikTok account with Janky, 1.3 million followers on Instagram

Unique Character Traits: Edgy and dark humor

Created By: Superplastic

Superplastic, the world’s leading creator of animated synthetic celebrities, apparel, and designer toys, owns this naughty bunny. His obsessions include anything horror-related. In his own words, he has described himself as a

“fashion horror artist & mixtape producer with obsessions: handbags, axes, designer toys, Billie Eilish, & The Shining”. 

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Guggimon first made his appearance in June 2019. You might recognize him as one of Steve Aooki’s hype stars. He joined this world-famous DJ and producer on his Color of Noise tour.

In February 2023, Amazon Studios announced that as part of its first-look film and TV deal with Superplastic, it’s investing $20 million in a show starring two of the company’s synthetic celebrities, Guggimon and Janky. However, there’s no news yet on when fans could expect their show on Amazon Prime.

To date, Guggimon continues to amuse his followers by posting quirky, dark-humored, Happy Tree Friends-like content. He has 11.7 million followers on his joint TikTok account with Janky, 1.3 million followers on Instagram, and 11,300 followers on X. Some of his brand collaborations include NTWRK, Gucci, Fortnite, and Paris Hilton. 

5. Any Malu(@anymalu_real)

Follower Statistics: 2.6 million followers on TikTok, 705,000 followers on Instagram

Unique Character Traits: Relatable and energetic, appeals to Brazilian culture

Created By: Combo Estudio

Originally from Brazil, Any Malu is a fully animated virtual influencer that is recognized across the globe. Production firm Combo Estudio created Any Malu. She first made her appearance in 2015, and in five years, she managed to grow from an idea to a YouTube star to a transmedia experience. 

This Brazilian virtual influencer has nearly 4 million YouTube followers and hundreds of millions of views on her videos. She also has 2.6 million followers on TikTok, 705,000 followers on Instagram, and over 31,000 followers on X.

Currently, this virtual beauty is one of the few digital influencers who have had their very own TV show. In her case, Any Malu’s TV show with a late-night-interview format was aired from 2020 to 2021 on Cartoon Network Latin America.

She’s known to promote animated films and shows, such as Inside Out and Ben 10, as well as games like Valorant, Animal Crossing, and Fall Guys. 

6. Nikuro®︎ (@liam_nikuro)

Follower Statistics: 11,700 followers on Instagram and nearly 1,400 followers on X

Unique Character Traits: Music-centric and mysterious

Created By: 1ssec Inc.

Created in 2019 and based in Tokyo, Liam Nikuro is hailed as Japan’s first male virtual influencer. He’s a Japanese-American music producer and part-time model created by the digital creative agency 1ssec Inc. Being a music producer, Liam has often been spotted with music industry icons such as The Weeknd, Skrillex, Post Malone, and San Holo.

Right now, Liam has 11,700 followers on Instagram and nearly 1,400 followers on X. He updates his followers regularly with life updates usually centered on his favorites, including ramen, basketball (he’s a huge Washington Wizards fan), working out, and, of course, music.

7. Shudu (@shudu.gram)

Follower Statistics:  239,000 followers on Instagram 

Unique Character Traits: Elegant and high-fashion, representation of Black beauty

Created By: Cameron-James Wilson

Shudu Gram, or Shudu, is a virtual influencer and model created by London-based fashion photographer Cameron-James Wilson in 2017.  Shudu’s creation was inspired by iconic black supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Grace Jones, Alex Wek, and, of course, South African Barbie. This virtual beauty is hailed as the world’s first virtual supermodel and has 239,000 followers on her Instagram account. Since her creation, Wilson created more virtuals like her—under the agency The Diigitals—including Galaxia, Dagny, Koffi, and J-Yung.

As a digital supermodel, Shudu has collaborated with A-list brands, including Balmain, BMW, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue. Only last June, she was featured as the cover girl for Vogue Czechoslovakia Leaders edition. According to the magazine, Shudu is the “embodiment of elegance and modern design” and named her as the representation of the “groundbreaking chapter” in the world of fashion and modeling. 

8. Janky (@janky)

Follower Statistics: 990K followers on Instagram

Unique Character Traits: Playful and mischievous with a quirky design

Created By: Superplastic

Janky is brought to you by Superplastic, the same creators behind Guggimon. Originally from Los Angeles, this part-time cartoon stuntman first made his appearance in June 2019. His brand mentions include big names and luxury brands like Tinder, Prada, and Red Bull. In a little over a year, he gained 990K followers on Instagram. Janky and Guggimon’s joint TikTok account, to date, has 11.7 million followers and over 71 million likes.

9. Noonoouri (@noonoouri)

Follower Statistics: 485,000+ Instagram followers, 73,000+ TikTok followers

Unique Character Traits: Large, expressive eyes and an advocate for sustainable fashion

Created By: Opium Effect

Noonoouri was created by Joerg Zuber, the founder of Opium Effect, a creative agency in Munich, Germany. The 19-year-old digital character has taken the fashion industry by storm and has worked with the majority of top luxury fashion brands, including Dior, Balenciaga, Valentino, Versace, and Bulgari. Besides partnering with iconic designer labels, Noonoouri has also ventured into the music industry, having landed a record deal with Warner Music for her first single in 2023.

While her goal is to entertain, she also aims to inform her audiences about various social causes. She is much more than just a digital character. Since she’s a vegan who’s very vocal about her support for sustainable fashion, one thing you’ll never see her promote is a fur coat.

Noonoouri mostly uses Instagram to update her now 485,000+ followers. She isn’t active on X, but she is on TikTok where she has 73,000+ followers and 460,000+ likes.

10. B. (@bee_nfluencer)

Follower Statistics: 222,000 Instagram followers

Unique Character Traits: Non-human influencer, advocate for the environment

Created By: The Foundation de France

Originally from Paris, France, Bee is the very first influencer bee. He/she first buzzed onto the social media scene in April 2019. The Foundation de France created this loveable virtual influencer to help brands across the globe collect money to help save bees. While his/her Twitter account is quiet, his/her Instagram account is a hive of activity with over 222,000 followers. This buzz-worthy influencer loves sharing bee facts to educate the audience on the significance of bees worldwide.

The work done by this little busy bee is crucial as bees play an integral role in ensuring our ecosystems and agriculture remain in balance. According to the European Union, more than 80% of wild and cultivated flowering plants rely on pollination. What’s more, they are also responsible for pollinating 75% of the world’s agricultural crops. If you’ve seen Disney’s Bee Movie, you’re probably familiar with why bees are important in the ecosystem. B. has collaborated with Carrefour France, esports club Team Vitality, and Citeo France, among others.

11. imma (@imma.gram)

Follower Statistics: 388,000 followers on Instagram, 471,000 followers on TikTok

Unique Character Traits: Trendy fashion sense, showcases Japanese culture

Created By: Aww Inc.

If Japan has its own male AI influencer, the country has its very own virtual girl model, too. Originally from Tokyo, imma has the prestigious title of being Japan’s first virtual model and made her first appearance in July 2018. Since then, this virtual girl with the distinctive pink bob featured in many headlines. According to imma’s creators, the agency Aww Inc., because of her rising popularity, Japan Economics Entertainment has selected her as one of the “New 100 Talent to Watch.” 

Her interests include Japanese culture, art, and film. A few of Imma’s notable brand mentions include Burberry, Adidas Tokyo, and IKEA Japan. In the few years that she spent in the business, she has grown her followers to more than 388,000 on Instagram and 471,000 on TikTok. Her videos on TikTok currently have a total of 6.6 million likes. 

Unlike most of the virtual influencers who seemed to have taken a break from “work,” Imma is still actively involved in the industry. Earlier this year, she was invited to TED as the first virtual girl to appear in a TED talk. Just this August, imma was also appointed as the ambassador to the first RAGE WORLD CHALLENGE in Bangkok, an offline, overseas e-sports event featuring various game influencers and cultures from different regions. 

12. Kami (@itskamisworld)

Follower Statistics: 3,269 Instagram followers

Unique Character Traits: Virtual girl with Down syndrome, showcasing trendy virtual wearables

Created By: Cameron James-Wilson

One of the newest members of The Diigitals and from the same company that created Shudu comes Kami, the world’s first virtual influencer model with Down Syndrome. Kami was co-created by Down Syndrome International (DSi), creative agency Forsman & Bodenfors (F&B), and The Diigitals modeling agency by Cameron James-Wilson. 

This virtual girl was created to bring more diversity to virtual avatars and give more representation to individuals with disabilities. Because of the inclusivity Kami represents, she has been recently recognized at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2023. Kami received a Silver award in the Engagement PR/Innovative Use of Influencer category and was also given two bronze awards for Digital Craft/Digital Illustration & Image Design and the Design/Digital Creation categories.

Kami has been featured in Newsweek and Adweek and has recently collaborated with L’Oreal Groupe to further her mission of spreading awareness and diversity in the digital space. Currently, she has 3,269 Instagram followers. 

Virtual Vs. Real Influencers – What’s the Difference? 

Due to advancements in AI used in creating digital humans, the physical differences between human-looking virtual influencers and real influencers are getting harder to pinpoint. Function and role-wise, virtual and real influencers are eerily similar, as virtual characters are also given human-like attributes to help them connect with their audience easily. 

Having said that, it could be a tough choice to select between a digital influencer and a real one, considering their similarities. Here’s a brief comparison between the two:

1. Creation

Virtual influencers, unlike traditional influencers, are made using computer-generated imagery (CGI), motion capture, and generative AI. They may be fictional characters brought to “life” through computer effects, but they don’t exist in the real world. On the other hand, traditional influencers are real people. Their content is based on their real-world experiences and interactions with their target audience. 

Since virtual influencers are CGI, they’re not limited to the human form. While most are three-dimensional and look human, some don’t look like a person at all, although they have humanlike personalities, like Janky and Guggimon. Others are also two-dimensional—think cartoons—like Any Malu. 

If you think about it, any fictional character—whether a book hero/heroine or anime character—can become a virtual influencer if they start a social media account and begin airing their thoughts. This means that anyone with creative capabilities and the means to develop and market a unique influencer persona can be successful in creating a virtual influencer.

2. Control Over Content

Digital personalities are managed by agencies or companies. Their appearance and content are carefully curated to gain popularity among a specific demographic. In short, everything they project—their appearance and even their thoughts—is controlled by their creators because they simply lack the capability to create content on their own. At least right now. 

Similarly, real content creators also curate their content to cater to their target audience. However, unlike virtual influencers, real influencers maintain a degree of autonomy over what they post online. Some human influencers may have creative teams working for them, but ultimately, they decide which ideas to execute for their brand.

3. Authenticity and Engagement

While virtual influencers each have quirks that make up their distinct persona, they’re far from authentic. Everything that these AI models do is staged and geared toward better engagement. Although this sounds similar to what most real influencers are currently doing, real influencers are more authentic, showcasing what it’s like to live life from their point of view. It’s difficult for virtual influencers to be truly authentic, as they literally cannot think and act for themselves.

However, because virtual influencers’ fans are aware of that fact, the lack of authenticity seems to be negligible, as evidenced by good engagement rates from their audience. According to HypeAuditor, virtual influencers have 3x more engagement than real-life influencers, and that’s why there’s an uptick in the number of iconic brands signing AI influencers for their campaigns.

On the other hand, authenticity appears to drive engagement higher in human influencers. According to Forbes, 90% of consumers state that being authentic is a top factor that significantly impacts their brand preferences. Moreover, 77% are more likely to engage with brand content that appears genuine. Humans value connection, and influencers who can form deeper connections with their audience benefit from it through higher viewership and brand loyalty.

4. Adaptability and Consistency

Since digital influencers are ageless and have no actual life experiences that may cause growth or changes in their personality, you can count on them to stay consistent with their branding. They can be predictable and hence ideal for brands looking for reliability. Plus, given their flexibility, companies may find it easier to collaborate with and build marketing campaigns around them.

Working with human influencers, in contrast, can be unpredictable in some cases. Although they’re more relatable because of their real-life experiences, human endorsers experience shifts in perspectives and changes in opinions on various issues. This, in turn, can impact their content and brand alignment—which can become problematic and cause image issues for the companies they represent.

5. Cost and Scalability

Generally, virtual influencers can be more cost-effective in the long run. Companies can cut back on expenses usually associated with handling celebrities, like travel, accommodations, security, and personal maintenance costs. Being virtual, they can also be omnipresent, or work in multiple events happening at the same time. 

Real influencers, while generally more popular than virtual influencers, come with all the fees mentioned above. Nevertheless, some brands may prefer traditional influencers for their campaigns depending on the suitability of the influencer for their marketing goals. 

6. Flexibility in Campaigns

The digital nature of virtual influencers allows them to integrate seamlessly with various digital campaigns, digital environments, and even the metaverse. They can be programmed to appear in several places at the same time and perform tasks that are otherwise challenging for real people. 

Having virtual or AI influencers in the digital marketing space doesn’t change the fact that the audience is still human. Influencers, whether real or virtual, are vying for human interest. Because they have real-life experiences and emotions, human influencers bring a level of relatability that virtual influencers will be unable to fully replicate. While omnipresence is a plus for virtual influencers, personal interactions with fans are invaluable in building lasting trust and boosting audience engagement.

3 Things Brands Should Know Before Working with AI Influencers

Transparency and Authenticity

As with normal influencers, working with digital humans can be fraught with issues. One of the biggest issues with AI influencers is their lack of authenticity. Since they don’t have emotions and haven’t experienced life outside the virtual world, they’re inherently less relatable than normal influencers. This can prevent them from fostering genuine connections with their audience, which lays the groundwork for lasting reach and success on social media platforms. 

Since human-like virtual influencers are computer-generated and made almost perfect in every way, they can perpetuate unrealistic body and life standards. Because they’re not real, they also raise concerns about the authenticity of their messaging. Since they’re virtual, there’s no way they could have experienced a product or a service like any human would. Their creators have full creative control over their content and therefore can manipulate them to say anything, which can result in misinformation and bias.

Another drawback to virtual influencers relates to ethical transparency concerns. Most of the time, AI creators remain anonymous, which encourages a lack of accountability in their messaging. In some cases, this anonymity can also lead to ethical dilemmas, especially when the audience assumes that they’re interacting with a real person instead of a digital entity. 

This is where the importance of disclosing AI-generated content comes in. FTC’s guidelines have modified the term “endorser” to encompass virtual influencers. To comply with FTC, it’s best for brands to disclose AI influencers and content as being computer-generated, as well as stay updated on local and regional laws that can impact them. 

Brand Safety and Reputation

As mentioned, virtual influencers are less likely to be unpredictable compared to their human counterparts. But just because virtual influencers are entirely controlled by their creators doesn’t mean they don’t come with their own set of challenges. 

Let’s take for instance the case of Caryn Marjorie’s AI version. Marjorie is a real-life influencer on Snapchat who created a digital clone of herself, with the goal of engaging with as many of her followers as possible. 

i have uploaded over 2,000 hours of my content, voice, and personality to become the first creator to be turned into an AI, now millions of people will be able to talk to me at the same exact time #carynai #ai

— Caryn Marjorie (@cutiecaryn) May 2, 2023

However, things got out of control when the AI clone was used for inappropriate interactions. This case highlights how virtual influencers can harm a brand’s safety and reputation if the virtual influencer’s “behaviors” are not carefully managed. 

Audience Sentiment

Because of their human-like appearance and distinct personalities, some audiences find virtual influencers to be fascinating. However, most followers find virtual influencers to be uncanny and authentically fake. 

The lack of real emotions, human experiences, and struggles leads to virtual influencers appearing less relatable and authentic. This can prevent them from building a genuine connection with their audience, which is vital in influencer campaigns. 

Brands need to consider these implications and decide whether the advantages of collaborating with virtual influencers outweigh the risks. 

Wrapping Things Up…

You might wonder about the appeal behind virtual influencers. In short, using virtual influencers is not a typical approach to influencer marketing yet. Thus, the right digital character can help your brand to stand out among all the other real people who are already using channels like Instagram and TikTok. 

As digital characters can be easily created nowadays, we can expect more virtual humans to saturate social media as influencers. And given the rising popularity of AI in the digital marketing space, it would come as no surprise to see brands shifting from real influencer collaborations to marketing with virtual influencers instead.

However, this doesn’t mean that virtual influencers are ultimately preferable to human influencers. Both kinds of influencers have advantages and flaws and it’s exciting to see how they’ll coexist in the influencer landscape as AI gains more acceptance in the social media space.

About the Author

Koba Molenaar

Writer

Koba Molenaar brings nearly a decade of rich experience in content writing, specializing in digital marketing, branding, SaaS, and eCommerce. Her passion for helping brands, from solopreneurs to established companies, connect with their audiences shines through her work. As a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, Koba’s commitment to excellence is evident in her work, showcasing her as a relatable and knowledgeable voice in the industry.