Dove has always championed Real Beauty – breaking unrealistic beauty standards and putting real women and realistic body types at the heart. Since 2004, the Dove Self-Esteem Project (DSEP) has become the largest-self esteem education provider in the world, giving girls the tools they need to build self-esteem and body confidence.
But the world is changing. More and more girls spend time in the virtual world of gaming, and an estimated 60% start playing video games before the age of 10. While gaming can have a positive influence, like finding new connections, communities, and ways to express your true self, the portrayal of women in video games isn’t always so positive.
Female characters in games do not accurately represent the diverse gamers of the world – and are often heavily sexualised, and created within narrow, unrealistic beauty standards. 74% of girls wish the characters in video games looked more like women in real life, and parents are worried about the impact this representation will have on young gamers.
Introducing Real Virtual Beauty
That’s why we’re taking our mission to the virtual world. Dove is entering the world of gaming with the global launch of Real Virtual Beauty, a series of commitments challenging the representation of beauty online, and changing education for self-esteem in the virtual realm.
Our mission
We’ve created a coalition of allies in the gaming industry and beyond, including Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, and Women in Games. Together with our Real Virtual Beauty Coalition, we’re on a mission to educate and empower game developers to create a healthier, more diverse representation of girls and women in gaming around the world.
Our ambition? Diverse video game characters. We’re building a global character art collection that appropriately represents female characters in gaming (that developers will be able to access free of charge). To support this, we’re also launching the Real Beauty in Games Training programme – an online course designed to educate developers, creators and artists about beauty and diversity in gaming.
Real Beauty in Games Training
Gamers want true-to-life diversity even in the fantasy realm of gaming, but there’s work to be done on female representation in video games – especially when it comes to the creation of avatars. Featuring modules developed in partnership with the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR), the Dove Self Esteem Project (DSEP), and industry experts, the course will help teach creators how to avoid unconscious bias across the stages of avatar and character development, giving female players an opportunity to redefine how they are represented across the gaming experience.
The coalition and training programme are part of our collaborative efforts to galvanise industry innovators who have the power to drive change – giving them the tools and skills they need today, to help build a more inclusive world online – now, and in the years to come.
The Real Virtual Beauty character art collection
As a result of this training, Dove and Epic Games are launching the Real Virtual Beauty character art collection which is dedicated to broadening the representation and increasing inclusivity in gaming.
We are inviting gaming creators and developers to participate in more creative ways to express individuality, to help evolve self-representations in the avatar world. Dove will deliver a series of grants and awards to the best creators, to help fund and expand their work.
Let’s change representation in gaming
Together with our partners, Real Virtual Beauty can lead the way in transforming gaming into a positive place for women and girls.
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
I have accomplished things that I am proud of and that is what gives me my confidence and my beauty."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
You aren’t meant to fade into the background."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
Your worth has nothing to do with your weight."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
It was only when I realized that what makes you different and unique also makes you beautiful, that’s when my confidence grew."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
My beauty routine starts with embracing my own natural beauty and its uniqueness."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
Real beauty to me means challenging yourself to do the things you can’t and showing yourself kindness along the way."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
I have stopped trying so hard to fit in - my beautiful personality is written all over my face and that’s the only beauty I need."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
I learned that beauty is from the heart, it’s all about kindness."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
I don't often see dark skin in the media, and skin conditions even less so. I want everyone to see that being a Black woman with vitiligo is a source of resilience and pride."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
Growing up as a transgender woman, I was pressured to change who I was to fit others' ideas about who a woman should be. Now I'm representing myself and my beauty on my own terms."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
I want to shatter the stereotype that I need breasts to look like a woman. Choosing to live flat after my mastectomy has made be stronger and more confidenand that's truly beautiful."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
I've carried three babies in this belly, and earned every grey hair. I want all mothers to see that their bodies are perfect just the way they are."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
There's a lot of pressure for women to 'act their age'. I want to show that aging means continually growing and experiencing life beautifully."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
Femininity is often depicted as a formula - cut your hair like this, wear that. To me, it's about loving yourself fearlessly for who you are."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
Growing up, I never saw women wearing hijabs in media & advertising. Now girls can see me, achieving my career goals and defining beauty on my own terms."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
I grew up surrounded by narrow ideas about how a woman should look and what she could be. I’ve overcome those limits and make no apologies for embracing my ambition and my natural beauty."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
I'm not worried about fitting into anyone else's ideas of beauty. As a brown-skinned multi-media creator, I want to redefine beauty to include all of us in the melanin pride community."
YOUR DAILY DOSE OF DOVE LOVE
Women with Alopecia often feel that baldness will hold them back from realizing their full personal and professional potential. Showing the beauty of bald women helps open doors for us to opportunities that others take for granted."