Culture

Moroccan AI-Generated influencer makes top 10 in maiden Miss AI beauty pageant

Published

6 months ago

June 6, 2024

Moroccan AI-generated influencer, Kenza Layli, has made the top 10 finalists shortlist competing for the inaugural edition of the Miss AI Beauty Pageant.

According to organizers of the innovative pageant, Layli who has over 190,000 followers on Instagram, made the shortlist from a pool of 1,500 applications submitted by AI content creators around the world.

The competition, created by The World AI Creator Awards (WAICA) in collaboration with Fanvue, aims to display “a shift in how we perceive beauty and creativity within the realms of artificial intelligence,” Will Monange, co-founder of Fanvue, said.

“While traditional pageant criteria such as appearance, poise, and interview responses will be considered, contestants will also be evaluated on their proficiency in using AI tools,” Monange said in a statement.

“Additionally, judges will factor in contestants’ social media presence, including audience growth rate and engagement with fans, in determining the winner.

Moroccan media reports that Kenza
Layli, an AI-generated woman, is one-third of the world’s first “AI family” and has quickly become a prominent figure online.

“Kenza’s engaging content is closely tied to Moroccan society, and according to her page, her goal is to contribute to the empowerment of women in Morocco and the Middle East while also advocating for much-needed regulation in the influencer market,” one report stated.

“Kenza’s creators use a complex mix of technologies to generate her image, video, and audio entirely from AI.

“The Miss AI pageant has faced some criticism amidst concerns that AI is threatening job security and artistic professions, but has debunked the belief, saying the awards have shown the high level of engagement among AI content creators worldwide, with the standard of the shortlist being nothing short of incredible.

“Other finalists and their creator teams hail from various countries including Brazil, Portugal, France, India, Romania, Turkiye, and Bangladesh. Each finalist has a unique backstory and is created using a range of AI technologies and techniques.”

The winner of the Miss AI pageant will receive a prize package valued at approximately $20,000, with the results expected to be announced later this month.

Click to comment

Culture

Nicki Minaj eulogizes Davido for collaborating with her on new song

Published

8 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

American rapper, Onika Maraj, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, has poured encomium on Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, aka Davido, for featuring in her track, ‘If It’s Okay”, which, according to her, gave the song an authentic Afrobeats tempo.

Nicki, who expressed her gratitude to the Nigerian singer, had, on Friday, taken to her X page to show love to Davido by posting “Thank you Davido” along with the visuals of the track.

To further show her appreciation, Nicki, while responding to a question from an X user, Tae, said the “Unavailable” singer gave the track the Afrobeat feel.

Tae had written: “What drew you to Davido for the song ‘If it’s Okay’? In my opinion, he was an ideal choice for this incredible masterpiece! He was speaking that ish.”

Responding to Tae, Nicki wrote:

“That man is an incredible writer and melody maker. It’s always a pleasure working with him because of our mutual respect for one another.

“I asked him to be a part of it in order to bring out the Afro beats tempo/feeling in it a bit more. Naija to the world.”

The track, “If it’s Okay” is part of the 10th-anniversary special edition of Nicki Minaj’s iconic album “The Pinkprint”, which was originally released in 2014.

The commemorative edition features four brand-new tracks, including collaborations with Swae Lee (Turn Ya Cap Back), David Guetta and Davido (If It’s Okay), and the late Juice WRLD (Arctic Tundra).

Culture

South African DJ Black Coffee bags World’s Best DJ 2024

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

South African disc jockey, DJ Black Coffee, has been named the World’s Best DJ 2024 at the Golden Moon Awards.

Reporting on the award, prominent South African tabloid, IOL, wrote:

“All hail Black Coffee from South Africa, winner of the Golden Moon award for the World’s Best DJ 2024! Black Coffee has taken the global stage by storm, blending his unique Afro-house sound with deep, soulful grooves that resonate with audiences worldwide.

“A pioneer, a visionary, and a cultural ambassador, Black Coffee continues to inspire millions, pushing boundaries and connecting the world through his music. A truly deserving icon of this prestigious honour!”

DJ Black Coffee whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, was not the only local South African entertainer who was recognised at the awards as rising star, Palesa Desiree Shilabje, popularly known as DESIREE, was also named the World’s Breakthrough Artist 2024.

On DESIREE, the tabloid said:

“DESIREE’s rise to prominence comes from her ability to craft electrifying DJ sets that seamlessly blend genres—African-inspired house, deep house, techno, and soulful rhythms.

“Her passion for diverse sounds has landed her on some of the world’s most respected stages, like DC-10, fabric, and Hï Ibiza, bringing her deep African influences to a global audience.

“Beyond her music, DESIREE proudly represents the intersex community, using her platform to inspire and educate about her experience. A truly groundbreaking artist, DESIREE is already leaving an unforgettable legacy.”

The Golden Moon Awards are held every year to select the best 100 clubs in the world and to award prizes in different categories to the major players in nightlife, individuals, clubs and associations.