The theme for this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July is ‘Out of this World,’ and the organisers of the event took this theme seriously when choosing their ambassador.
Meet Yezi Starr, an AI influencer and self-proclaimed “Virtual Girl” with just under 10 000 followers on Instagram and over 22 000 followers in Twitter.
Yezi announced her role as an ambassador on her social media platforms, saying, “‘siri play Alien superstar.’ Beyoncé isn’t the only horse girl in town. I’m proud to announce I’m this years Hollywoodbets Durban July Ambassador. Congratulations to me.”
“Siri play Alien superstar”
Beyoncé isn’t the only horse girl in town. ???
I’m proud to announce I’m this years Hollywoodbets Durban July Ambassador. Congratulations to me ???. #HDJ2023 #outofthisworldZA pic.twitter.com/glq8CqchH2
— Yezi (@Yezi_Starr) March 27, 2023
Her post received lots of praise for her achievement. However, some social media users were still left confused by her presence.
Actor and TV presenter Maps Maponyane cleared the air by posting a video on Instagram explaining who Yezi Starr is.
“She is an artificial intelligence influencer… and she’s home grown in South Africa.”
Maps also reiterated the theme of the horse race – which will be run at Greyville racecourse on Saturday, 1st of July – and stated, “She is the most apt person, or character, to be the face, and that’s really what it’s all about.”
View this post on Instagram
He continued to say, “AI influencers have been a big thing around the world for many, many years now and they’ve only just arrived home with Yezi.
“You won’t be able to touch Yezi, but she’s real in her own world.”
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