Latest news with #Mukbang
NDTV
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Taiwan Makeup Influencer Who Regularly Ate Lipstick, Blush In Videos Dies At 24
A Taiwanese beauty influencer, known for her "make-up mukbang" videos where she'd eat cosmetics like lipsticks, blushes, and face masks, has died at 24. According to the South China Morning Post, the influencer known online as Guava Beauty had gained a following of over 12,000 on her platform with her unique content, often featuring her consuming lipsticks, blushes and other makeup products. Her death, announced on May 24, has sparked speculation about the cause, with some suspecting poisoning from consuming chemical-laden products and others suggesting a heart attack. In one of her videos, she applied a jelly-like blush to her cheeks and lips, then used a fork to put it in her mouth and chew it, describing it as "crispy, kind of like agar jelly," but admitted it tasted terrible. This behaviour sparked concern among followers, with many criticising her for dangerously consuming chemical-laden cosmetics. Others were concerned that they could mislead her audience, particularly younger viewers, into thinking cosmetics are safe to consume. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 芭樂水水 (@guava_beauty_) Her death was announced by her family on her social media account with a heartfelt statement, mentioning that she "had always persevered through life's hardships". The statement revealed that she died on May 24, 2025, after battling a sudden illness, although the exact cause of death remains unknown. "It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that our treasured girl of beauty-product mukbangs, Guava Beauty, put down her brushes and flew off to start a new channel in heaven on May 24, 2025. Thank you to everyone who ever liked, commented, and laughed with her. She truly cherished it all. Maybe when we meet again, she will be unboxing angel-exclusive make-up for her celestial mukbang," the statement read. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 芭樂水水 (@guava_beauty_) The announcement was met with shock and disbelief in mainland China and Taiwan. Notably, Mukbang content enjoys massive popularity in China and throughout Asia, offering viewers psychological comfort and relaxation through influencers' eccentric personalities or theatrical expressions. Many fans, particularly young women, tune in to vicariously savour foods they avoid due to dieting, health concerns, or guilt.
Al Bawaba
12-03-2025
- Health
- Al Bawaba
Mukbang TikTok streamer dies from obesity
Published March 12th, 2025 - 07:54 GMT ALBAWABA - A Mukbang streamer from Turkey who first rose to fame from TikTok has tragically passed away due to suffering from obesity-related issues. The Turkish streamer in question was 24-year-old Efecan Kultur, who was best known for eating massive amounts of food while streaming. According to Turkiye Today, Kultur died on March 7, 2025, after he was hospitalized for three months for obesity. Mukbang TikTok streamer dies from obesity — David Santa Carla 🦇 (@TheOnlyDSC) March 12, 2025 This dangerous genre first rose to fame in South Korea, then slowly made its way to the West with people like Nikokado Avocado rising to fame. It would feature streamers consuming large quantities of food while making chewing noises as they interact with their audience like any other content creator. While he garnered millions of views on TikTok, 24-year-old Mukbang creator Efecan Kultur was forced to stop streaming on the popular video-sharing platform as he became bedridden with health issues stemming from his large weight. Before his passing, Kultur's last Mukbang video was posted on TikTok in October last year, where he also announced avoiding salt as a part of his diet. Moreover, His YouTube hasn't been active since eight months ago. The clip featured the streamer eating a large quantity of canned grape leaves. The Turkish government recently set Efecan Kultur as an example for the country's youth to display the potential dangers of Mukbang content. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Campaign ME
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
AI influencers: the future or just a fad?
The arrival of ChatGPT in November 2022 saw businesses around the globe hurry to use the game-changing tool, enticed by the prospect of enhanced productivity and performance. For marketers ahead of the curve, AI has since been more than just an efficiency tool. While many use AI to support content creation, the emergence of AI influencers in recent years has sparked considerable debate. In today's digital age, the dream of becoming a full-time influencer is an allure for Gen Zs amongst others. Having grown up watching their peers narrate Fortnite games, eating food in front of a microphone (a.k.a. Mukbang) and providing makeup tips on TikTok, success has never seemed more attainable. The influencer landscape has shifted from polished content and charisma in front of the camera to embracing quirky and outright bizarre talents, and now, more than ever, audiences crave raw and refreshingly honest content. Almost a decade ago, influencers had gained fame by sharing their lives or showcasing niche skills, amassing large audiences and lucrative brand collabs. However, as competition intensifies, casual posting now holds less significance and no longer guarantees a lucrative career. The AI influencer landscape AI influencers, also known as virtual influencers, are computer-generated characters designed to engage audiences for marketing purposes. The concept of these virtual models traces back to the 1980s with characters like Max Headroom, and within Japanese idol culture. However, it wasn't until 2016, with the emergence of Lil Miquela created by the Los Angeles-based company Brud, that the concept began to gain traction and widespread popularity. However, the million-dollar question remains; can AI influencers really compete with real ones? As AI technology becomes more readily accessible and affordable, we may see a democratisation of influencer marketing, enabling individuals and businesses of all sizes to harness the power of AI to amplify their brand presence. That's not to say human influencers are dispensable. The unique qualities of humans, including authenticity, emotional resonance, and adaptability, will continue to set them apart. This is especially true as we navigate crucial conversations around ethics, transparency, and the broader societal implications of AI influencers. Meet the AI radio presenter A great example of using AI to push the boundaries of trust and innovation is through our client the Royal Commission AlUla, and JOY an AI radio presenter created and adopted by RCU's Alaa Kayal and Mostafa Sami. For AlUla FM, which serves as the (English-speaking) voice of Saudi culture, this presents an opportunity to leverage a digital personality to drive conversations around culture, heritage, technology, and other topics as summarised by AlUla FM's Radio Management Director, Alaa Kayal, 'JOY will blend AI with content inspired by Saudi traditions, bridging innovation with cultural preservation, and positioning AlUla FM as a platform for engaging conversations that resonate with both modern and traditional audiences.' JOY represents an innovative step forward, embracing hyper-personalisation and machine learning algorithms. However, a fine line exists as JOY must navigate her role as a presenter with cultural sensitivity and respect in both appearance and communication style. How can brands use AI influencers effectively? Since AI creators are not limited by their physical characteristics, they possess a novelty and flexibility that human influencers don't. Interestingly, it's this unique identity that makes them highly appealing to brands who are seeking specific content experiences, as well as improved cost efficiency and scalability. However, a crucial commodity lies in winning consumer 'trust' and is something that every brand must cultivate to compete in a market where consumers have numerous purchasing options. While AI influencers have the opportunity to maintain consistent and transparent communication, it remains to be seen whether they can really develop the same levels of trust as real life creators. Like them or not, AI influencers are here to stay. Ongoing improvements in natural language processing, machine learning, and computer vision means that AI influencers will continue to become more sophisticated in their interactions and content creation. In a data-rich world, AI personas will start to seamlessly integrate into the fabric of our digital lives, from personalised product recommendations to virtual companions offering lifestyle advice. The result? A continued blurring of lines between real and virtual worlds. By Lewis Chappell, Head of Strategy, Incubeta MENA.
