First Couple in Second Life: Michelle Obama Avatar Arrives

The avatar of President Barack Obama has been in Second Life for several months, at least in the photorealistic form created by Italian Resident Mrsigmund Fride, but sadly for such a social world, he has had to make do at parties and other events without a First Lady on his arm. That identity lacuna has finally been resolved, because Mr. Fride has at last completed his Michelle Obama avatar, and now sells them at his store. [Direct SLurl teleport at this link] As one would expect, she is on default elegantly coiffed and smashingly dressed, and about as instantly recognizable as Mrs. Obama as the avatar version of her husband. (Creating avatars based on identifiable real world celebrities, as this series strongly suggests, is no easy task.) One significant shortcoming: the avatar's arms aren't as perfectly sculpted as the First Lady's most famously are. On the plus side, my style writer has already written a fashion guide for prospective SL versions of Mrs. Obama.

MrSigmund Fride has been selling astoundingly accurate avatars based on real world celebrities for some time. "I think that anyone can dress an avatar with a different spirit," he tells me. "I just create the avatar and people can create an imaginary." So far, his President Obama is by far his top seller, followed by one based on Chinese superstar Gong Li, and Italian President Silvio Berlusconi. Half-jokingly, I ask Mr. Fride if people buy his Berlusconi avatar to take to hot sex parties, in tribute to the real life counterpart, and he immediately answers Yes, indeed they do.

Comments

[Sioban McMahon]

They did a nice job on the Michelle Obama avvie. Something about the Barack Obama face is a bit off, perhaps the jawline and ears? Bless his heart, Mr Obama does have some jug ears.

Great work and congratulations to the designers.

[Mako Kungfu]

Xanna Ziskey has been playing with Barack and Michelle avs for a long time (since early 2008) on her Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/xannaziskey/sets/72157603677894327/

[Butch]

The one of Gong Li is amazing.

[Chenin Anabuki]

Very nice. But I agree about the avatar version not doing justice to the First Lady's well-toned arms. In general, I think this is something that needs improvement in the SL avatar mesh.

[Suzanne Miller]

Well, maybe he's the first to sell SL Obama avatars, but he's not the first to make them and post pictures of them. My Obama shapes, however, will only be available to Mr. and Mrs. Obama, when they decide to visit Second Life. (-:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xannaziskey/sets/72157603677894327/

[Ener Hax]

hey what a great write up! thanks! now you kinda looked photoshopped in! lol, but hey, it's a pic of you with the president =)

seriously, it helps show how all forms of commnication - from Twitter to Second Life - are just a part of modern life. and i applaud the president for having an avatar

to me it's just like having an email address or phone number. those that see it otherwise are simply not doing all they can do to communicate to as many as want to hear them

[Doubledown Tandino]

I want to buy that secret service agent avatar in the background..... oh wait... that's Hamlet.