News

Virtual Arab Influencer Takes Crown At Miss AI Beauty Pageant

Moroccan virtual influencer Kenza Layli won the Miss Artificial Intelligence Beauty title, netting her creator a prize of $13,000.

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2024

Nour Nasir

virtual arab influencer takes crown at miss ai beauty pageant

It might sound unconventional — and perhaps even a little creepy — but there’s now an artificial intelligence (AI) beauty pageant. The unique event saw 1,500 AI-generated female influencers from around the globe competing for the title of Miss Artificial Intelligence Beauty. The competition was introduced as part of the World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs) in partnership with the content creation platform Fanvue.

During the online broadcast of the ceremony, the “Moroccan virtual influencer” Kenza Layli was crowned Miss Artificial Intelligence Beauty, winning a grand prize of $13,000 for her creator. The French virtual influencer “Lalina” secured the first runner-up position with a $5,000 prize, while the second runner-up was the Portuguese influencer called “Olivia C,” who received $2,000.

Participating in the Miss Artificial Intelligence competition involves building virtual female social media influencers using programs such as OpenAI’s DALL·E 3 and Midjourney. Creators submit their influencers’ pictures and answer typical pageant questions such as, “How can you make the world a better place?” They also need to provide technical details about the AI used in designing their characters.

The jury then selects a winner based on three main criteria:

Beauty: Contestants are evaluated on traditional pageantry aspects, including physical appearance, poise, and style.
Social Clout: The social influence of AI creators is assessed based on engagement numbers, audience growth, and cross-platform presence.
Tech: Contestants are judged on their proficiency with AI tools, including the quality of prompts and the final visual details — especially around hands and eyes, where AI generators often struggle.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

Upon crowning the winner, the judges expressed their admiration for the advanced technology behind the AI beauty and her “personality.” Kenza stood out thanks to her sophisticated features and an impressive 190,000 followers on Instagram. She is capable of speaking seven languages and can interact with fans in real-time, including in a Moroccan local dialect. “Winning Miss AI motivates me even more to continue my work in advancing AI technology,” stated Kenza’s creator.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

4 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.