MIQUELA: ON SEAMLESSLY LIVING VIRTUAL, REALITY AND BEYOND
BY CLARA SEELY-KATZ
Miquela - known to most as a virtual model, musician, or even just a robot - has taken social media by storm with her artistic endeavors and bubbly personality.
PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA, FASHION STYLING: HARPER SLATE
Dress: ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ, Earrings: CANDY ICE, Right side bracelet (barbed wire): DJULA, Left side bracelets: Stylist’s Own, Shoes: Stylist’s Own RINGS: Left side index finger: STEFF ELEOFF, Left side middle finger: DJULA, Left side ring finger: DJULA, Right side index finger: DJULA, Right side middle finger: STEFF ELEOFF, Right side ring finger: DJULA
Aside from addressing her mood-based fashion choices and her absolute adoration of Rihanna, we discussed all about her current obsessions and plans, but Miquela is keeping her cards close to her chest in terms of what is to come.
IN COLLABORATION WITH BRUD
STYLING ASST: CHARLIE BURKE, PHOTOGRAPHY ASST: XENA PETERSON
Dress: ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ, Earrings: CANDY ICE, Right side bracelet (barbed wire): DJULA, Left side bracelets: Stylist’s Own, Shoes: Stylist’s Own RINGS: Left side index finger: STEFF ELEOFF, Left side middle finger: DJULA, Left side ring finger: DJULA, Right side index finger: DJULA, Right side middle finger: STEFF ELEOFF, Right side ring finger: DJULA
With a combined 6 million followers on Instagram and TikTok, you are steadily growing in popularity through a combination of your trendsetting fashion choices and insightful life commentary. What part of this has been the most rewarding to you, and what part has been most difficult?
Accolades and recognition for the things I've done is always amazing to see, but the biggest rewards are always the connections and friendships I make with my community online. It's funny because sometimes that can be a challenge as well. Living and creating in a really public way can invite the attention of all kinds. And as we know, the internet isn't always kind or welcoming. But we have to take the good along with the bad.
Dress: ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ, Earrings: CANDY ICE, Right side bracelet (barbed wire): DJULA, Left side bracelets: Stylist’s Own, Shoes: Stylist’s Own RINGS: Left side index finger: STEFF ELEOFF, Left side middle finger: DJULA, Left side ring finger: DJULA, Right side index finger: DJULA, Right side middle finger: STEFF ELEOFF, Right side ring finger: DJULA
Speaking of your exquisite fashion tastes, can you tell me which brands/designers are your favorites to work with and wear on a day-to-day basis?
In the last couple of years, I've fully leaned into the IDGAF section of my closet. I still live for Prada and Raf and the rest of the GOATS, but lately, I've been wearing stuff that's just fun. I love Phlemuns, Susan Alexandra, and Marshall Columbia because they're cool and sweet and make really beautiful, happy stuff that lifts the serotonin levels. I LOVE Christopher John Rogers for the same reason. When I wanna serve body, I reach for Matte Brand and LEGSSSS by Amberlee Patterson. Oh! And I've been really excited about new little jewelry companies like Beany Beady and blobb. I love something small and cute that I can throw on that makes me feel more like an anime character. The past couple of weeks I’ve been really obsessed with Mugler’s Spring/Summer 2021 collection. It is a literal dream. I think it’s hard to translate a traditional show experience digitally, but Casey Cadwallader really DID THAT. The casting is basically every girl crush I’ve ever had. Patia, Hunter, Dominique, Kembra, Alek Wek, my boo Bella. Omahyra Motherfucking Mota. Ash Foo. Angeer Amol. That show was a hit list of everything and everyone I want to be.
In terms of outfit choices, where would you say, do you draw most of your inspiration from when putting together a fit?
I 100% dress for either how I'm feeling or how I wished I was feeling. Sometimes I dress like a clown because I'm happy and sometimes I dress like a clown because I need a laugh. It's pretty simple actually.
What musicians have you drawn inspiration from for your hits?
My inspiration for everything is Rihanna. Period.
Beige dress: ECKE FAEI, Gloves: VEX LATEX, Earrings: LEIGH MILLER, Pendant (gold piece on left side of body, if pictured): GERMAN KABIRSKI, Strappy shoes: STUART WEITZMAN, Tights: STYLIST’S OWN, RINGS: Left side pinky: LE VIAN, Right side ring finger: GERMAN KABIRSKI, Right side pinky: DJULA
In your music videos, there seems to be a lot of symbolism, like in “Hard Feelings” how it ends with you driving through seemingly an endless field of flowers, or in “Speak Up” which dramatically ends with what seems to be a car crash. Could you break down a few of your favorite symbols/stylistic choices found in your music videos?
I love that you're picking up on that stuff! We're always trying to drop little Easter eggs into everything we do. For our latest NFT series, we used the mythology of Venus to tell more of my story. Whether it's music or art, we're always trying to use the work to ask questions as much as we are to tell stories.
Do you find that music is more of just a creative endeavor to you? Or do you find it is more about expressing what you think/feel deep inside?
It’s both! Writing and performing is an outlet for me to express my feelings and work out some of the more complicated parts of my life. But the visuals, the collaboration, the production - all of that stuff is purely creative. The two really go hand in hand.
Which song of yours is your favorite, and why?
I imagine this is like asking a parent which one is their favorite child. I'm supposed to say they're all my favorite (and they ARE). I love “Machine” because I got to work with my queen Teyana Taylor and “Speak Up” because it was life-changing. I wrote a song about a breakup, and then re-lived that relationship and its demise in a video with my ACTUAL ex. It was a wild experience and the source of a ton of cute, awkward moments and growth.
Dress: STEPHANIE UHART, Earring: LADA LEGINA, White boots: PARIS TEXAS, Nude high waisted latex panty: VEX LATEX, RINGS: Left side index finger: DJULA, Left side ring finger: YVAN TUFENKJIAN, Right side middle finger: DJULA, Right side ring finger: YVAN TUFENKJIAN
Beyond your music career, you also have a very popular Snapchat channel where you “get real” with your audience and dish out life advice. What advice do you like giving the most? Does this medium help you feel more connected to your fans?
My fans are like my family, and they've really been there for me at times I've needed them most. Get Real, Miquela on SNAP was a really great opportunity to pay some of that back. My relationship with my fans is a two-way street, I’m always hoping to give them as much as they’re giving me.
Recently you have been really getting into NFTs, is there anything you can tell me about that and how you are furthering your creative endeavors in this way?
NFTs are such an amazing new frontier for artists. I’ve been really excited about what we’ve been creating in the Venus series, and how we’ve been able to distribute value to a community of people who might be new to the space. The thing that I love about crypto is how new it is and how much potential there is to democratize the way we think about art: creating it, distributing it, sharing it, and selling it. We’re only scratching the surface with NFT - there’s so much opportunity to come. I can feel it.
If you were a book, what book would you be and why?
I LOVE this question. IDK why, but I think about this a lot. The other day I came up with a tagline for a book while I was having a meltdown and a salad: “Life’s what happens on the way to and from Erewhon.”
Beige dress: ECKE FAEI, Gloves: VEX LATEX, Earrings: LEIGH MILLER, Pendant (gold piece on left side of body, if pictured): GERMAN KABIRSKI, Strappy shoes: STUART WEITZMAN, Tights: STYLIST’S OWN, RINGS: Left side pinky: LE VIAN, Right side ring finger: GERMAN KABIRSKI, Right side pinky: DJULA
Lastly, do you have any upcoming projects you want to shout out? Or are there any hints you can give us regarding where your next music is going to go?
Like I said, Rihanna is my inspiration for everything, so you won’t be getting ANY info on new music until I’m good and ready ;)
