On Fox’s singing contestAlter Ego, contestants reinvent themselves as their dream avatar and compete via virtual performances. The show speaks to the increasingly blurred lines between people’s digital and physical identities, particularly as a means of creativity and self-expression.

During the pandemic more people found escape in virtual worlds, donning secondary identities that they were free to manipulate however they wished. Playing into this, Roblox debuted 'Gucci Garden', where avatars become genderless mannequins as they embark on a journey of self-discovery.

After a period of rapid digitisation, in which people relied heavily on the internet to facilitate meaningful connections, modes of visual self-expression have moved far beyond the performative selfie. In this new era of metaversal living, how do people want to curate their virtual identities?

In mid-2020, a new influencer popped up across social channels. She amassed a large following in just a couple of months, thanks to her interest in League of Legends – but she isn’t real, she’s one of an increasing number of avatars being used by companies to promote their products.