A virtual Eva Herzigová has become the Metaverse's first supermodel

Czech supermodel Eva Herzigová turned 50 earlier this year, but her likeness will live on forever thanks to innovative digital technology. The model, famed for her collaboration with WonderBra, has now become the world's first MetaHuman supermodel, a realistic digital human created in Unreal Engine and set to play a pivotal role in the future of digital fashion.

Herzigová’s digital likeness has been crafted through a collaboration between talent agency Unsigned and virtual production studio Dimension. The 3D MetaHuman was generated from data captured by a 70-camera rig, allowing character artists to faithfully recreate the model’s appearance in real-time.

The team then styled Herzigová’s digital avatar with virtual clothing, hair, and makeup to ensure her likeness was captured perfectly. The Czech model also participated in a motion capture shoot, where state-of-the-art technology captured the movement of her body, face, and signature walk.

“The process of giving birth to my MetaHuman (digital human) has been incredible, it genuinely feels a mother-like experience: creating every aspect of me, as me," Herzigová says in a press release.

"My skin and bone, the way that I move, frown, smile: and at the same time everything can be changed at the flick of a switch or the drag of a mouse, my look, smile, background, age: everything can be changed and adjusted. My MetaHuman gets to go off to work, to be photographed and styled by the most incredible creative minds, today I can be in London, Paris, Milan and New York, all whilst at home cooking dinner with my children.”

Now, Herzigová’s MetaHuman can be dressed, posed, lit, and animated in real-time, making it an ideal platform for virtual fashion shows, 3D browser-based experiences, live video streams, and online games.

The creation of MetaHumans offers a number of opportunities for brands and industries that are looking to push the boundaries of digital experiences. Herzigová’s digital avatar, for example, could model digital wearables, appear in live broadcasts, or be used in 2D videos and stills.

"We are entering a new era for digital identity and fashion," says Dimension Studio co-CEO Simon Windsor. "Eva is at the forefront of this evolution, with her MetaHuman ready for super-stardom. 3D avatars offer artists and talent exciting new ways to extend their reach, and present brands with more versatile and innovative storytelling opportunities."

"Dimension brings our heritage in digital humans and virtual worlds to this pioneering partnership with Unsigned and Eva, as we collaborate to push the creative possibilities of mixed reality - in fashion and beyond."