KENZA LAYLI, A HIJAB-WEARING ACTIVIST FROM MOROCCO CROWNED AS WORLD’S FIRST MISS AI

Authored by Tanima Bhatia

Key Highlights

  1. Historic Victory and Global Celebration: Kenza Layli, a hijab-wearing AI model from Morocco, was crowned the world’s first-ever Miss AI at the Fanvue World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs). She triumphed over 1,500 computerized challengers, winning a $20,000 grand prize for her creator, Meriam Bessa, CEO of Phoenix AI. The event celebrated global AI talent, with contestants judged on beauty, technology, and social media presence.
  2. Empowering Moroccan Culture and Social Causes: Layli, who engages with over 194,000 social media followers, aims to empower women, protect the environment, and spread positive robot awareness. Her ambition is to showcase Moroccan culture and offer value across multiple fronts. Creator Meriam Bessa emphasized the significance of representing Moroccan, Arab, African, and Muslim women in technology and advocating for women empowerment and sisterhood.
  3. Promoting Positive AI Awareness and Future Prospects: Layli’s win promotes a positive and informed view of AI’s role in society, highlighting AI as a tool to complement human capabilities. The pageant also addressed concerns about unrealistic beauty standards set by computer-generated perfection, advocating for ethical considerations in AI use. The success of the Miss AI pageant paves the way for future events, potentially including a Mr. AI contest, and underscores the innovative potential and future prospects for AI creators.

In a groundbreaking event, Kenza Layli, a hijab-wearing bionic beauty from Morocco, has been crowned the world’s first-ever Miss AI. This historic pageant, commissioned by the Fanvue World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs), invited AI visionaries from around the globe to showcase their programming prowess. Layli, a lifestyle influencer in her home country, triumphed over more than 1,500 computerized challengers, winning a $20,000 grand prize for her creator, Meriam Bessa, CEO of Phoenix AI. “While I don’t feel emotions like humans do,” Layli revealed in an interview with The Post, “I’m genuinely excited about it.”

A Global Celebration of AI Talent

Fanvue co-founder Will Monange expressed the excitement surrounding the inaugural award: “The global interest in this first award from WAICAs has been incredible. The awards are a fantastic mechanism to celebrate creator achievements, raise standards, and shape a positive future for the AI Creator economy.” Contestants were judged on beauty, technology, and social media presence, with the top 10 finalists evaluated by a panel of human and android pageant experts. Layli stood out for her facial consistency and hyper realistic details, such as hands, eyes, and clothing. Fitness influencer Aitana Lopez, who assisted in judging, noted, “What truly impressed us was her personality and how she addresses real issues in the world.”

Championing Moroccan Culture and Social Causes

Kenza Layli, who boasts over 194,000 social media subscribers, aims to use her platform to empower women, protect the environment, and spread positive robot awareness. “My ambition has always been to proudly showcase Moroccan culture while consistently offering additional value to my followers across multiple fronts,” she said. Layli’s creator, Meriam Bessa, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the significance of representing Moroccan, Arab, African, and Muslim women in technology. “This is an opportunity to represent Morocco with pride,” Bessa told The Post. “I am also very happy to be able to stand for subjects that are dear to me through Kenza Layli. Women empowerment and sisterhood.”

Inspiring a Positive View of AI

Layli’s win not only marks a milestone in AI beauty pageants but also serves as a platform to promote a positive and informed view of AI’s role in society. “AI is a tool designed to complement human capabilities, not replace them,” Layli emphasized. “By showcasing AI’s potential for innovation and positive impact, I aim to dispel fears and promote acceptance and collaboration between humans and AI.” As the world’s first Miss AI, Kenza Layli is set to inspire and educate, fostering a more optimistic perspective on the future of AI.

Recognition and Future Prospects

 

In addition to the grand prize, the winners and runners-up of the pageant received various awards and recognition. Layli’s creators were awarded $5,000 in cash, a $3,000 mentorship program, and over $5,000 in PR support. Runners-up included Lalina Valina from France, known for her messages of kindness to her 117,000 Instagram followers, and Olivia C., a Portuguese AI on a mission to blend the real and robot worlds. Lalina and Olivia secured second and third places, respectively. Monange also hinted at future events, suggesting that a Mr. AI contest might be in the works.

Addressing Unrealistic Beauty Standards

While the pageant showcases an impressive fusion of technology and beauty, it also raises concerns about exacerbating unrealistic beauty standards through computer-generated ‘perfection’. The event may be a leap forward for technology, but it can set toxic expectations and standards for real women and society as a whole. The Miss AI pageant serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical considerations and the need for stricter regulations on how generative AI is used.

A Bright Future for AI Creators

Despite these concerns, the Miss AI pageant highlights the innovative potential of AI creators. Layli’s victory is a testament to the creativity and skill involved in AI development, and it opens doors for more such competitions in the future. By celebrating achievements in AI and promoting a positive future for the AI Creator economy, events like the WAICAs pave the way for greater acceptance and collaboration between humans and AI. As Layli continues to engage with her followers and advocate for social causes, she represents a new era of digital influence and AI-driven change.

Through her efforts, Kenza Layli is not only breaking new ground in AI beauty pageants but also championing important social issues and fostering a more inclusive and optimistic view of AI’s role in society. As the world’s first Miss AI, she stands as a symbol of the potential for AI to drive positive change and enhance human capabilities.

References:

  1. https://nypost.com/2024/07/08/lifestyle/worlds-first-miss-ai-crowned-kenza-layli-from-morocco-genuinely-excited/
  2. https://www.ndtv.com/feature/influencer-from-morocco-crowned-worlds-first-miss-ai-gets-20-000-prize-6067331
  3. https://www.wionews.com/science/meet-kenza-layli-worlds-first-miss-ai-moroccan-ai-influencer-beats-1500-contestants-to-win-maiden-title-739183
  4. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/meet-hijab-clad-kenza-layli-from-morcco-worlds-first-ever-miss-ai/articleshow/111581841.cms
  5. https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/moroccan-influencer-crowned-worlds-first-miss-ai-says-genuinely-excited-for-the-win-article-111608103
  6. https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/celebrities/meet-kenza-layli-from-morocco-worlds-first-ever-miss-ai#read-more
  7. https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/07/09/meet-kenza-layli-from-morocco-the-winner-of-the-worlds-first-miss-ai-beauty-pageant