Who is Lil Miquela?
Miquela Sousa, also known as Lil Miquela, is a fictional American character, singer, and social media personality created by Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou. She is portrayed as a Brazilian-American 19-year-old girl and first appeared on Instagram in 2016. Miquela's profile presents her as a CGI character and model involved in various digital projects and brand marketing, primarily in fashion. She has endorsed streetwear and luxury brands like Calvin Klein and Prada, amassing over a million followers in her first two years online.
How did Lil Miquela come to life?
Miquela Sousa is a fictional teenage Instagram model from Downey, California, created in 2016. Initially, there were rumors linking her to British model Emily Bador, but it was later revealed that Miquela and another character named Bermuda were created by the startup Brud in Los Angeles.
Miquela has appeared with various celebrities and has been featured in interviews and magazines like Refinery29, Vogue, and BuzzFeed. In 2020, her storyline included a "conscious uncoupling" from her "human" boyfriend as part of her fictional narrative.
Controversy of Lil Miquela
In May 2019, Miquela faced backlash for a Calvin Klein commercial with Bella Hadid, where they kissed, and some accused them of using sexuality for clickbait. Later that year, Miquela received criticism for a YouTube video where she discussed a "sexual assault" story, which people believed was fabricated to make her character seem relatable. American singer Kehlani called Miquela out on Twitter for being "ignorantly offensive."
These incidents led to Miquela being seen as a social justice activist, raising questions about her dual role as a marketing tool.
Interesting facts about Lil Miquela
- Miquela Sousa, also known as Lil Miquela, is a fictional character created for social media and marketing purposes.
- She made her debut on Instagram in 2016 and quickly gained popularity.
- Miquela and another character named Bermuda were created by the Los Angeles-based startup Brud, led by Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou.
- Miquela faced controversy for a Calvin Klein commercial with Bella Hadid, where they kissed, and for a YouTube video discussing a "sexual assault" story that some believed was fabricated.
- She has appeared alongside celebrities such as Diplo, Millie Bobby Brown, Nile Rodgers, Samantha Urbani, and Pabllo Vittar.
- Miquela's character has been positioned as a social justice activist, raising questions about the intersection of her fictional persona and marketing endeavors.
