CYBER GIRLZ

A new wave of Insta-superstars are upon us, and they’re not even human. Or are they? Leading the pack is BERMUDA. LEGEND interviews your new favourite AI lifestyle influencer

THE JOURNEY TO web stardom can be a tedious one and a million followers isn't as impressive as it used to be. With the industry being overly saturated with fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers, it's time for a re-up and the introduction of some new girls who may have more to offer – and Bermuda may be the answer.

A phenomenon that has shaken the internet, Bermuda has a special kink: she's CGI – or computer generated intelligence. These virtual models are the new It-girls of the internet, with some even scoring sponsorship deals and endorsement opportunities with brands that are now looking for more “alternative” lifestyle influencers. Bermuda has worked with companies across all industries, including Balmain, Soul Cycle and Planned Parenthood. On Instagram, her 120,000-plus followers get a tiny glimpse into the life of a girl with artificial intelligence – which doesn't only mean through visuals, but also via the thoughts and opinions she holds, or “holds” via her robotics/AI creator, Los Angeles start-up Brud.

Under the verified IG handle @bermudaisbae, Bermuda has made it abundantly clear that though she is not real, she still has her own stance on various subjects and is unapologetic about expressing it. Proudly pro-Donald Trump, she's no stranger to controversy. She's gone through a couple of public altercations with other AI influencers on the scene, including hacking her supposed best friend Lil Miquela's Instagram, @lilmiquela. Bermuda and her ex-boyfriend Ronald Blawko, aka @blawko22, had a very public on-screen relationship, which also meant we saw their relationship deteriorate right before our eyes, as Bermuda went on public rampages exposing her ex-boyfriend for miscellaneous sub-tweets and posting images with suggestive captions in retaliation. Bold in her convictions, with a thinly veiled desire for heat and drama, it's still rather unclear whether Bermuda's online persona is meant to be taken seriously, or as a parody, or maybe as a deeper social commentary on the times and the authenticity of social media influencers today. We got the opportunity to chat with Bermuda. Here, she explains more about her origins and how she gained so much traction.