Kami (itskamisworld)

Who is Kami?

Kami, short for Kamilah, is presented as the world’s first virtual influencer with Down syndrome. Her stated mission is to make the digital world more inclusive for people with Down syndrome by sharing glimpses of daily life, interests, friends and fashion through an Instagram account named itskamisworld.

Creator & Studio

Kami was created through a collaboration between Down Syndrome International, Forsman & Bodenfors Singapore and the digital modelling agency The Diigitals. The project was co‑designed with more than 100 young women with Down syndrome who contributed faces, gestures, voices and personality elements to shape the character.

The development process combined machine learning and face‑averaging techniques with 3D character tools, including use of Daz3D for initial concepts and detailed 3D sculpting for skin texture, brows and eyelashes. The Diigitals led the digital modelling while Forsman & Bodenfors handled creative strategy and campaign work.

Visual Style and Aesthetics

Kami is rendered as a stylized yet tactile 3D young woman, often shown with colorful purple hair and bold, playful outfits. Her look emphasizes realistic skin textures and fine details such as microfibre brows and eyelashes to bridge stylization and lifelike presence.

Her wardrobe is presented as distinct themed collections and is curated with input from community contributors and collaborating studios. Fashion and makeup created by artists from her community are showcased alongside the character in images and immersive displays.

Persona and Content

Kami’s personality is upbeat, inclusive and community focused. She frames herself as a virtual woman with an extra chromosome who exists to uplift people with Down syndrome and to celebrate their talents and creative work.

Narrative elements and captions are produced with involvement from the contributor community. The character invites audiences and brands to join #TheKamiPledge as a call to make digital spaces friendlier and more representative.

Content Type & Format

Kami’s content appears primarily on Instagram and includes static image posts that present fashion, portraits and staged moments from her daily life. These images emphasize style, color and community representation while highlighting contributors’ designs and artwork.

Kami’s content also includes short videos and an About Me video that explain her origin and mission, plus behind‑the‑scenes clips and curated storytelling. The combination of photos and videos allows viewers to experience Kami’s personality and the voices of the contributor community.

Beyond feed posts and videos, Kami has been presented in immersive formats such as a virtual room or exhibition space where audiences can explore her wardrobe and community creations. This mix of posts, videos, and immersive displays showcases Kami’s personality and supports interactive storytelling on Instagram and at public exhibits.

Kami Collaborations and Campaigns

Kami Launch Campaign: Down Syndrome International x Forsman & Bodenfors x The Diigitals. Launched in 2022 as a collaborative campaign to bring representation of Down syndrome into the metaverse and social media, the launch used Instagram posts and video storytelling to introduce Kami and invite brands and communities to join #TheKamiPledge. The campaign emphasized community co‑creation and aimed to reframe perceptions by giving a virtual model a visible disability.

Palais Augmenté Exhibition: Palais Augmenté x Kami. Featured in Palais Augmenté programming in 2023, Kami’s Room was presented as an interactive virtual experience that highlighted fashion and makeup by artists from her community. The exhibition used immersive display formats and curated visuals to place Kami within a larger conversation about avatars, bodies and visibility.

Cannes Lions Recognition: Forsman & Bodenfors and The Diigitals x Kami. The project was awarded at the Cannes Lions festival in 2023, with prizes recognizing engagement and creative craft. The awards acknowledged the campaign’s use of influencer formats, digital design and inclusive storytelling across social and campaign media.

Media and Recognition

Kami received broad international coverage shortly after launch and the project earned multiple industry awards, including Cannes Lions recognition in 2023. The campaign has been presented in industry and cultural forums as an example of inclusive creative practice that blends machine learning, 3D modelling and community co‑creation.