The Age of AI: Why Human Creativity and Realism Matters
When I was a fashion student, I loved reading fashion magazines for inspiration. But the women I saw on those glossy pages were always super tall and slender, unlike me. It’s encouraging that plus-size models are more visible now, but the truth is, many brands still promote images of women that feel far from reality.
Lately, I’ve noticed something new: AI creeping into fashion. Entire collections imagined by algorithms, photoshoots with no real people at all, even digital models standing in for real women. At first glance, the images are stunning, almost TOO perfect. But that’s exactly the problem, perfect isn’t the same as real. As women, we already live under relentless pressure to look a certain way. And now I can’t help but wonder: are we about to find ourselves competing with 'models' who were never even human to begin with?
We are living in what many are calling the 'age of AI'. Every week brings new breakthroughs, tools and apps that can draft files in seconds, create images with a few words or even compose music at the click of a button.
For some industries, this technology has been nothing short of revolutionary. In medicine, for example, AI is helping doctors detect diseases earlier, analyze scans with greater accuracy and even develop treatments. In these life saving contexts, the benefits are undeniable.
The danger is that as these tools become more sophisticated, it’s becoming harder to distinguish what’s real and what’s fake online. We’ve already seen examples of this in the spread of AI generated fake news articles on social media, designed to mislead or inflame public opinion. Even more concerning is the rise of deepfakes, hyper realistic but entirely fabricated videos or audio recordings created using AI. These can make it appear as though someone said or did something they never actually did, posing serious risks to reputations, relationships and even democracy itself. This is why it’s more important than ever to seek out and support the real thing.
Art, design, music, photography, these aren’t just outputs. They are experiences. And while AI can mimic the look, it can’t recreate the life and soul behind it.
I prefer to do things the 'old-fashioned way': with real humans, quirks and all. As a short, plus-size mature woman, I'm far from a typical fashion model. The photos of my designs are meant for everyday women to see themselves wearing them and feeling great.
And photo shoot day is such a blast! I grab my camera and head out with a staff member or model for some fun away from the computer. The laughter between takes and spontaneous moments are priceless. And grabbing a post-shoot treat together makes the day even more special.
AI may be here to stay, and in certain fields, it will do incredible good. But when it comes to the arts, fashion and creative work, the deeply human act of creating something together, let’s not forget the irreplaceable value of the human heart, mind and body!
