Balmain used virtual models instead of real women in its latest campaign ‘to present diversity’ — and a lot of people are furious

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• Balmain is using a “Virtual Army” of digital models for its latest campaign.
• The campaign has garnered some negative reactions.
• Some commenters think the digital models are taking opportunities away from real working models, especially models of color.
• Others like the experimental element of the campaign.

Major fashion brand Balmain is used to causing a stir when it reveals a new project, but it’s usually for positive reasons. Its 2015 collaboration with H&M sold out in minutes, and creative director Olivier Rousteing was responsible for some stunning looks at the 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. 

The brand typically works with models such as Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner, but its latest campaign features Balmain’s new ‘Virtual Army’ — a trio of digitally generated models

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All of the models were designed by photographer Cameron-James Wilson, who previously found success by creating a virtual model named Shudu. Described as the world’s first digital supermodel in her Instagram bio, Shudu has developed a rather large social media following with over 142,000 followers on the platform.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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