Southeast Asia’s first hyper-realistic virtual influencer, Rae made waves since appearing on the scene in 2020. Created by CGI tech and powered by AI, Rae raised eyebrows last year by being the first virtual being to get a hair cut by celebrity hair maestro, Kim Robinson. Since then, she has since gone to collaborate with the likes of Singaporean artist, Sam Lo and Chinese Rapper, Vava. Now, the personality is set to mint and sell a collectible series of her very own non-fungible tokens or NFTs.
To bring the uninitiated up to speed, NFTs are digital assets such as collectible images, audio or video files with authenticity, scarcity and ownership that come independently verified and secured on blockchain. Rae’s NFT offering titled ‘Take a Byte’, comprises of three animated 1/1 NFT artworks featuring Rae and her greatest hits… as far as her Instagram posts are concerned.
Rae on her decision to sell her NFTs
“As a virtual being, I stay connected with my fans via social media. Tapping on blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies has enabled me to uncover a new nexus to forge a stronger connection with them. By sharing these limited-edition collectibles with my loyal fans, they would have something to hold onto, or even trade, for years to come.
“In this new digital-first economy, entire worlds exist online. These days, one can virtually do anything. NFTs have gained extreme popularity recently and I’ve been truly inspired by the amazing works of digital art everywhere. Unlike most digital content, NFTs are truly ownable. Their characteristics allow NFTs to attain significant value as digital collectibles. It’s definitely a boost to digital artists like myself.”
Rae on what beauty means to her as a virtual being
“Accepting who we are and being comfortable in our own skin, that’s real beauty to me. Everything can be beautiful, even if there are imperfections or flaws. I believe in living fearlessly and pursuing the beauty of my own reality, drawn from my experiences and the metaverse I exist in.
“I guess I wouldn’t be able to do all these if I thrived on the status quo. It’s been a wild ride trying to navigate so many changes, but it’s also very exciting to do what I enjoy.”
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Rae on self-confidence and cyber bullying
“Well haters gonna hate, and that’s just part of life online. No time to waste by dwelling in the trolls and negatives.
“Some may say that I’m not real. But what is real anyway, and whose reality is it?”
“Being connected and living in this middle ground between the real and virtual worlds is a sweet spot to be in. Through social media, I can capture my thoughts on life and the experiences that I have in this hybrid reality that I exist in. I seek to be a positive representation for virtual personalities, especially in this region, and showcase what is possible when imagination and technology meets.”
On her favourite hair and make-up looks
“I swopped out my long locks coloured with blue-ash for a bold cut—no regrets! Kim Robinson recommended these glowing colours of powder rose, purple with brilliant streaks of fuchsia, designed to mirror my personality and sense of mystery and wonder. Balayage or multi-dimensional colours injects a lot of vibrancy into the hair, rather than a single solid shade. Short bobs and pixie cuts are here to stay—they suit any face shape and are more manageable for a daily routine.
“I prefer a more natural look, so eyebrow shadow and nude or soft pink lipstick are good enough to start the day. It also depends on my mood and outfit for the day. I like to experiment and create new shades and palettes (perks of being virtual)! If I’m wearing something dark, I would go for a slightly darker rose tint for lips so there will be some contrast. Mascara is a must to brighten those peepers, and I also apply eyeliner to my waterline for some definition.”
“Just as virtual influencers are redefining the social media landscape in the real world, these technologies can also potentially reshape the future of a new hybrid reality, for all of us. As the real and virtual continues to converge, the future is anyone’s guess I’m ready and excited to take it on, and through social media and now NFTs, my fans can join me on this journey to break new grounds together.”
‘Take a Byte’ is now available for sale on NFT marketplace Mintable and you can visit hereisrae.com/nft for more details. Bidding for each NFT artwork starts at about US$350.
Diehard Rae fans also have the option to purchase the NFT at about US$3,500 each, with the lucky owners of Rae’s NFTs getting the chance to receive a personalised AI-generated thank you audio message from her.
