$10 million per year!
That's what virtual influencer Lil Miquela reportedly earns from brand partnerships… Without ever stepping foot in a photo studio.
Marketers, you have to be strong: the idea of partnering with an influencer who doesn't actually exist sounds wild... until you see the numbers.
Take Noonoouri, a 19-year-old vegan activist and model from Munich. She regularly talks to her 472k followers on Instagram about social issues and works with luxury fashion brands like Versace.
She’s one of the many up-and-coming virtual influencers that are rapidly gaining popularity on the social media scene.
Learn more about virtual influencers, who they are, and if your brand should work with them
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What is a virtual influencer?
A virtual influencer, also known as a CGI influencer (“computer generated influencer”) is a digitally created character. They are active on social media and have loyal followers who consume their content.
Unlike human influencers, virtual influencers are entirely computer-generated and exist solely in the digital realm. So... virtual, eh.
Real Talk: Should your brand work with a virtual influencer?
Numbers dont lie: With 58% of people in the US following at least one virtual influencer, many brands are now trying to figure out if, how and when to collaborate with virtual influencers.
That's not just hype – that's a massive shift in how audiences connect with digital content.
Virtual influencers are an exciting opportunity for brands to try something new and stand out from the crowd. They can collaborate with businesses, promote products, and engage with their audience, just like human influencers.
But here's the million-dollar question: Is it right for your brand?
Let's break down the good stuff first...
Virtual influencers are like your dream collaboration partner:
- Never miss a deadline (or a flight to that exotic shoot location)
- Can literally defy physics for your creative vision
- Shape-shift to match your brand perfectly
- Zero risk of 3 AM scandal tweets
That said, what makes influencer marketing so powerful is the authentic connection between creators and their audiences, which goes in favor of human influencers.
Now, let’s take a look at some the most popular virtual influencers.
10 of the coolest virtual influencers in 2025
Here is our hand-picked selection of the top virtual influencers, based on follower count, content quality, and brand partnerships:
- Lu of Magalu
- Lil Miquela
- Shudu
- Noonoouri
- Aitana Lopez
- Imma
- Rozy
- Leya Love
- Kyra
- Milla Sofia
Now, let's dive into who they are, and who they work with.
1. Lu of Magalu
Instagram: @magazineluiza
Instagram followers: 7.1M
Country: Brazil
Lu of Malagalu was one of the very first virtual influencers, created by Magalu, a Brazilian retail brand, in 2009.
Lu first appeared on YouTube to promote iBlogTV on behalf of Magazine Luiza.These days, Lu delights her Instagram followers with unboxing videos, product reviews, and software tips. She is most popular in her homeland of Brazil.
Collaborations
Lu of Magalu has collaborated with 40 Brands on Instagram in the last 12 months and reached over 39,9m, resulting in an estimated media value of €918k.
Lulu’s collaboration timeline shows ongoing partnerships with Samsung, Microsoft and Intel, as well as one-offs collabs with Vogue and Loreal. .
Her top banded posts are from car brand Chevrolet, and various fashion brands:
Audience
Lu’s audience swings slightly more female (65.8%). The audience is young, with 38.6% of followers aged around 18-24 and 32.2% of followers aged 25-34. 68.5% of them speak Portuguese.
Best for brands who …
want to reach Gen Z and Millennials in Brazil and Portugal.
2. Lil Miquela
Instagram: @lilmiquela
Instagram followers: 2.6M
Country: US
Miquela Sousa is a Brazilian-American 19-year-old created by American AI company Brud. She is one of the most popular virtual influencers in the fashion industry.
This high-profile influencer has been interviewed for many magazines and media outlets including Vogue, The Guardian, and BuzzFeed. She kissed Bella Hadid as part of a Calvin Klein Ad and took over the Instagram page of Prada for Milan Fashion Week. She is rumored to make $10 million a year.
Collaborations
Miquela collaborated with 91 Brands on Instagram in the last 12 months and reached over 9,9m users, driving € 219k in estimated media value.
Her collaboration timeline shows she has promoted Alexander McQueen, Hugo Boss, BMW, Red Bull, and more.
Her top branded posts feature her on the catwalk, getting her nails done, and dressing up.
Audience
Miquela's audience skews slightly more female (54%). 47% of her followers are between the age of 18 and 24, and 28% are aged 25-34. 55% of them are based in the US, and 62% of her followers speak English.
Best for brands who …
are in the fashion industry and want to engage with a younger, English-speaking audience.
3. Shudu
Instagram: @shudu.gram
Instagram followers: 239k
Country: US
Shudu is the world's first black virtual supermodel and influencer. Created by fashion photographer Cameron-James Wilson in 2017, Shudu is a fashion queen and uses cutting-edge technology to showcase the latest trends and styles. With a strong presence in editorial and sponsored fashion photography, Shudu is well-known in the fashion world and has been featured in Vogue.
Collaborations
Shudu collaborated with 18 Brands on Instagram in the last 12 months, reaching 346,1k users and driving an estimated media value of €7k.
Shudu’s collaboration timeline shows she has recently worked with luxury fashion brands Versace and Lanvin and regularly partners with Vogue:
Her top branded posts feature content from Vogue and Warner Brothers:
Audience
Shudu Gram’s audience is 54% female and almost half of her followers are between the ages of 18 and 25. She has an international following. Most of her followers are based in the U.S., followed by the UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany. Her followers mainly speak English.
Best for brands who …
As the self-proclaimed “World’s First Digital Supermodel,” Shudu is a logical choice for forward-thinking fashion brands.
4. Noonoouri
Instagram: @noonoouri
Instagram followers: 472k
Country: Germany
Noonoouri is an internationally recognized digital influencer represented by IMG Models. She was created in Munich, Germany, and “lives” in Paris. She uses her platform to showcase fashion, art, and technology, powered by Movella Entertainment.
With a focus on sustainability and diversity, she collaborates with renowned brands like Versace and Balenciaga. Her content revolves around digital haute couture, NFTs, and the metaverse.
Collaborations
Noonoouri collaborated with 130 Brands on Instagram in the last 12 months and reached over 31,9m users with 151 posts, 700 stories and 214 reels resulting in an estimated media value of € 771k.
Shudu’s collaboration timeline shows she has recently worked with a ton of brands, including Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand Skims:
Her top branded posts feature Versace and Warner Bros:
Audience
Noonoouri’s audience is 67% female. Almost half are 18-24.She is popular in France, the US, Germany, Italy, and the UK. Over half her followers (51%) speak French, followed by English (25%).
Best for brands who ...
Noonoouri is a very popular partner for luxury fashion brands.
5. Aitana Lopez
Instagram: @fit_aitana
Instagram followers: 325k
Country: Spain
Aitana López is Spain's first AI model and a 25-year-old virtual influencer from Barcelona. She's not a real person, but a digital creation made by a company called The Clueless in 2023. Aitana loves video games and staying fit.
On Instagram, Aitana shares her virtual life with over 325,000 followers. She works with big brands like Nike and allegedly makes up to €10,000 a month. Apparently, some celebrities have even tried to ask her out, not realizing she isn't real.
As a pioneer in Spain's digital world, Aitana is changing how companies advertise online. She shows that you can be into gaming and fitness at the same time, inspiring her fans to try new things and stay healthy.
Collaborations
Aitana has collaborated with 34 Brands on Instagram in the last 12 months, reaching over 64,4k users.
Aitana’s collaboration timeline shows she has recently worked with a range of brands, including Nike:
Her top branded posts show her in workout gear and dressed up to go out:
Audience
Aitana’s audience is 69% female. Over half (54%) are 18-24.She is popular in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, and Germany, Over half her followers (67%) speak Spanish, followed by English (13%).
Best for brands who…
Want to reach a female, Spain audience that is into gaming and/or fitness.
6. Imma
Instagram: @imma.gram
Instagram followers: 389k
Country: Japan
Imma is Japan’s virtual “It girl.” She is the first virtual model from Japan and one of the pioneers in virtual modeling, working with some of the biggest names in fashion like Valentino and Nike.
Imma is passionate about fashion, art, films, and Japanese culture. She is known for her bright pink hair bob cut and bangs.
She was nominated as one of the “New 100 talents to watch” by Japan Economics Entertainment and supported Magnum China with the launch of the new ice cream flavor, Magnum Matcha.
Collaborations
Her long collaboration timeline shows collabs with top brands such as Coach, Apple Guess, Alexander Wang, and more.
Imma collaborated with 80 Brands on Instagram in the last 12 months and reached over 4m users with 49 Posts, 180 Stories and 6 Reels resulting in an Estimated Media Value of € 94k.
Her branded posts feature her showcasing a variety of makeup and fashion looks:
Audience
Imma’s audience is 57% female and 43% male. Nearly half (48%) of her followers are aged 18-24. 78% of her followers are in Japan.
7. Rozy
Instagram: @rozy.gram
Instagram followers: 170k
Country: South Korea
Oh Rozy (which means “one and only” in Korean) is the first virtual influencer from South Korea, created by Sidus Studio-X. People call her 'GamSeong JangIn' (Korean phrase meaning 'expression expert') due to her amazing facial expressions and poses.
Since her online debut in 2020, Rozy has successfully secured advertising deals, participated in two virtual fashion shows, and released two music tracks.
Her official Instagram account showcases her enjoying a glamorous lifestyle, including shopping trips, poolside lounging, travels to exotic destinations like Singapore, golf outings, and fine dining experiences.
Collaborations
Rozy collaborated with 5 brands on Instagram in the last 12 months and reached over 43k users with 3 posts resulting in an Estimated Media Value of € 860.
Here are her top branded posts:
Audience
52% of rozy.gram's audience is female, and over half her followers are aged 18-24. 65% of her followers are based in Korea, and 10% in the US. 15% speak English.
Best for brands who…
Rozy is a good choice for brands looking to target Gen Z females in Korea.
8. Leya Love
Instagram: @leyalovenature
Instagram followers: 555k
Country: Planet Earth - Leya doesn’t belong to a specific county
Leya considers herself the “love ambassador for Planet Earth.”
This virtual influencer on a mission to inspire and uplift others while promoting unity and consciousness in the world. As an advocate of the World Awareness Movement, she is interested in climate activism, art, mental health, animals, the metaverse, and creativity.
Leya loves photography, dance, art, nature rituals, and music. This virtual influencer is co-author of the bestselling book “Life Values: when dreams become true” and has been a speaker at the United Nations.
Collaborations
Leya has worked with 4 brands in the last 12 months, including Volkswagen. She has reached over 155,1k users with 4 posts resulting in an Estimated Media Value of € 3k..
Her branded posts look like this:
Audience
Leyalovenature’s audience is 57% female and mostly between the ages of 25 and 34. Her followers are mostly from the US (58%) and Canada (10%).
Best for brands who ...
Sustainable brands who love the planet as much as she does.
9. Kyra
Instagram: @kyraonig
Instagram followers: 266k
Country: India
Kyra is India’s first virtual Influencer, created by Himanshu Goel in 2022. She loves yoga, traveling, and empowerment and describes herself as a “Dream chaser, model and traveler.” She often shares content of her travels around the world, yoga sessions, and encourages her followers to work on themselves and live their best lives.
Collaborations
Kyra collaborated with 4 brands on Instagram in the last 12 months,including Amazon. She reached over 467,7k users with 3 posts, 2 stories and 1 reel resulting in an Estimated Media Value of € 11k.
Here’s a peek at her branded content:
Audience
Kyra’s audience is 72% female, and 53% of them are between the ages of 25 and 34. The vast majority (72%) of her followers are based in India and 58% of them speak English.
Best for brands who….
Brands in India looking to target a female audience.
10. Milla Sofia
Instagram: @millasofiafin
Instagram followers: 164k
Country: Finland
Meet Milla Sofia, Finland's first virtual influencer and a stunningly beautiful 24-year-old fashion model. Created by AI, Milla is arguably the most life-like virtual influencer to date, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the digital world. She's not just a pretty face—Milla is a passionate fashionista eager to shake up the fashion industry.
When she's not modeling, Milla loves exploring the intersection of fashion, technology, and creativity. She's proud of her "self-adaptive learning" from Virtual Realm University, constantly updating her knowledge on the latest fashion trends and tech advancements. Milla's unique blend of beauty, fashion sense, and tech-savvy personality has caught the attention of major news outlets worldwide, from The Independent to Fox News.
Collaborations
On her website, Milla shares that she's currently collaborating with Tyyliluuri, a Finnish online store selling stylish phone accessories. But she's not stopping there—Milla says she's "open to work" and ready for new partnerships.
Here’s an example of her branded content for Tyyliluuri:
Audience
Milla Sofia’s audience is 57% female, and 45% of them are between the ages of 18 and 25. Just over half (55%) of her followers are based in Finland, followed by the US (12%). 50% of them speak Finnish, and 25% speak English.
Best for brands who ...
Are in the fashion and/or beauty space and are open to trying new things.
Marketers: Virtual Influencers Don't Actually Save Your Budget (They Cost More Than You Think)
Let's talk real numbers... Lu do Magalu? $16.2M annual earnings. Lil Miquela? A cool $11M. Suddenly those human influencer rates don't look so steep, huh?
Here's what's fascinating:
- Virtual influencers command premium rates due to their novelty factor
- Top AI creators earn comparable (sometimes higher) fees than human counterparts
- Brand deals start at $150K+ for established virtual personalities
- Many require entire tech teams behind them for content creation
Plot twist: You're not just paying for influence – you're investing in cutting-edge CGI, animation, and AI technology. Each post requires specialized talent that human influencers handle themselves (makeup, photography, location scouting).
The real advantage? Not cost savings. It's creative control and brand safety. Those are the metrics worth measuring.
Virtual Models: Fashion's New Obsession (And Why It Matters for Your Brand)
Here's something wild: MANGO just dropped their entire teen sportswear collection without a single human model. Yep, you read that right. All AI-generated.
But hold up – let's clear something up real quick...
Virtual Models ≠ Virtual Influencers - there's a big difference for maketers
Trust me, this matters for your marketing strategy. In simple terms:
Virtual models are your digital mannequins. Show up for the photoshoot, rock the clothes, and Alt + F4. No drama, no social media presence needed.
Virtual influencers? They're the whole package. Think Lil Miquela – personality, storylines, daily content drops, the works.
Who's Actually Using Virtual Models?
- MANGO's making moves: Dropped that AI teen collection like it's NBD
- Victoria Beckham's fashion empire: Testing the virtual waters
- Other luxury brands: Quietly experimenting (and we've got the receipts)
But here's what nobody's talking about...
Virtual models could actually save your campaign budget (unlike their influencer cousins who command those $10M+ paydays we talked about earlier). No travel costs... No on-set drama....Just pure creative control.
The catch? You'll need to decide: Do you want that picture-perfect campaign shot, or that authentic moment that makes your audience stop scrolling?
Spoiler: The smartest brands are doing both.
About Storyclash - the brand behind the insights
Storyclash is the AI-powered Influencer Marketing Platform that helps brands find and evaluate influencers, measure the impact of their campaigns and manage all their data in one place.
Fast-growing DTCs like Bears With Benefits, Junglück or Kapten & Son, as well as large, established companies like Vodafone, Lululemon or Kaufland use Storyclash to get the most out of their influencer marketing.
Feel free to get in touch to learn more or register here for the weekly product tour: