![]() Her videos are now licensed to Caters News, whom I also reached out to for more information. I tried my best to reach out to whose real name is Ashley Domingues. But I did want the Target scene to be true. And, for as many TLC reality shows as I’ve watched, I’m always a bit suspicious of people playing out outrageous dramatics for our viewing pleasure. ![]() I have to say, upon first watching it, my first thought was that this kind of right-place, right-time viral recording seemed too good to be true. (Target also confirmed to me that he is “not a Target team member,” a spokesperson said.) The spectacle was so good that publications like the New York Post couldn’t resist writing about it - even after, as they noted, Target told them the man in the video was not an employee. It’s the stuff our messy, voyeuristic selves love to indulge in and speculate wildly about: Who is this woman? What decisions led her to this moment in her life? Is she the protagonist? Is she the villain? How can I project all of my moral high ground onto her and her cartoony would-be spouse? It’s no wonder the videos have collectively been viewed over 7 million times on the platform, and has become so viral off-platform that people are still tweeting, and wondering, about her today. “I’m just finally making him commit, you know?” “Hi guys,” then she says, waving to the TikToker recording. Like, if you don’t marry me this second,” the woman is heard saying in the second half of the viral TikToks. She recorded a bride stomping through the store with a bridesmaid, a pastor, and a cameraperson in tow to threaten her partner, an apparent Target employee, to marry her on site. A media star was born.Earlier this week, a two-part TikTok from user went extremely viral because it purports to show happening upon a ridiculous scene at her local Target. People and brands noticed, and eventually LIFE magazine asked Gaba to pose for a photoshoot with Cynthia around New York. Gaba would bravely take Cynthia out on the town and pose with her in public spaces. Her appearance was so detailed and realistic that she even had human imperfections, such as freckles and pigeon toed feet. In 1932, sculptor and retail display designer Lester Gaba created a 100 pound plaster mannequin named Cynthia for Saks Fifth Avenue. Let’s dive in, starting with an unsuspecting character.ġ930s - Cynthia the “Gaba Girl” Mannequin ![]() Today we’re reviewing the history of fictional celebrities and how they set the stage for contemporary virtual influencers’ success. These early fictional stars proved that celebrities and bands didn’t need to be “real” people in order to gain a very real following of fans, a visionary lesson if you consider the role of virtual influencers today. ![]() Talking heads like Max Headroom (1985), who we’ll share more on in a moment, set the precedent for the tens of thousands of VTubers operating today. Persona-based music groups such as The Archies (1968-1973) and The Gorillaz (1998-Present) are early examples of 2D characters that helped set the precedent for virtual groups like K/DA to succeed today. However, the concept of fictional celebrities can be traced all the way back to the 1930s, well before computers were invented, and that’s not even considering the long history of cartoon characters in print.Įvery industry is born somewhere, and today I’m setting out to share some of the earliest inspirations that led to the virtual influencer industry as we know it. He idea of a virtual character achieving legitimate, wide-scale fandom may seem like a modern idea. ![]()
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