Miss England's introduction of an AI round reflects the modeling industry's uneasy flirtation with digital innovation. This competition twist, where contestants pitch AI-generated avatars to brands, offers a glimpse into the future but also ignites the classic debate: Will AI empower or erase human authenticity?
Jessica Pliskin’s embrace of AI avatars shows promise in adaptability—she's on board with evolving or getting lost, spotting AI as an ally not an adversary. Yet, the hesitation from peers like Harriet Webster and Phoebe Michaelides reminds us there's real fear that AI could reduce human models to mere data points, stripping personality and jeopardizing livelihoods.
This tension taps into a broader, pragmatic issue in tech adoption: innovation rarely fits neatly into narratives of good or evil. Instead, it disrupts industries, forcing stakeholders to negotiate new roles, rights, and revenue models. The Miss England AI round, supported by MirrorMe, seems aware of this, offering legal frameworks and revenue-sharing mechanisms aimed at fairness—though the effectiveness of these safeguards remains under watch.
From a techno-journalist’s perspective, this is a fascinating stress test of AI’s cultural integration. It pushes us to ask: How much of “authenticity” is performative, and how much can be replicated or enhanced digitally without losing the essence? Also, what ecosystem shifts will unfold for behind-the-scenes workers—from makeup artists to lighting crews—as AI avatars sidestep traditional production costs?
Ultimately, the discomfort signals the start of a necessary conversation—not just about AI’s capabilities, but about the ethics, economics, and identity crises it invites. The stage is set for a new kind of runway drama, where pixels and persons negotiate presence, power, and profit. The key takeaway? Whether you cheer for AI on the catwalk or see it as a digital doppelganger threat, staying informed and critically engaged will be the survival skill for models and industries alike. Source: Is Miss England's AI round dangerous or progressive?
