Real Virtual Beauty

We're on a mission to challenge and transform female representation in video games, making dove gaming a positive space for girls and women through Real Virtual Beauty.

Dove has consistently championed Real Beauty, challenging unrealistic beauty standards by celebrating real women and diverse body types. Since 2004, the Dove Self-Esteem Project (DSEP) has become the world's leading self-esteem education provider, empowering girls with tools to build body confidence.

However, the world is evolving. Girls increasingly engage with the virtual world of gaming, with an estimated 60% starting video games before age 10. While dove games can offer positive influences like new connections and self-expression, female portrayal in video games isn’t always positive.

Female characters in games often fail to represent the diverse global gaming community, frequently appearing heavily sexualised or conforming to narrow, unrealistic beauty standards. A significant 74% of girls desire more realistic female gaming representation, and parents express concern about the impact on young gamers, highlighting the need for Real Virtual Beauty.

Introducing Real Virtual Beauty

That's why we're extending our mission into the virtual world. Dove is launching Real Virtual Beauty globally, a series of commitments challenging online beauty representation and transforming self-esteem education within the virtual realm of dove gaming.

Our mission

We've formed a coalition of allies across the gaming industry, including Epic Games' Unreal Engine and Women in Games. Through our Real Virtual Beauty Coalition, we aim to educate and empower game developers to foster healthier, more diverse female representation in video games globally.

Our ambition is to see more diverse video game characters. We are developing a global character art collection that accurately represents female characters in gaming, freely accessible to developers. Additionally, we're launching the Real Beauty in Games Training programme, an online course to educate developers, creators, and artists on beauty and diversity in gaming.

Real Beauty in Games Training

Gamers seek true-to-life diversity even in fantasy gaming, yet significant work is needed for female representation in video games, particularly in avatar creation. This course, developed with the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR), the Dove Self Esteem Project (DSEP), and industry experts, teaches creators to avoid unconscious bias in avatar and character development, empowering female players to redefine their representation in gaming.

This coalition and training programme represent our joint effort to inspire industry innovators, providing them with essential tools and skills to build a more inclusive world online for the future.

The Real Virtual Beauty character art collection

Following this training, Dove and Epic Games are launching the Real Virtual Beauty character art collection, aimed at broadening representation and increasing inclusivity in gaming.

We encourage gaming creators and developers to explore more creative expressions of individuality, helping to evolve self-representations within the avatar world. Dove will provide grants and awards to top creators, supporting and expanding their innovative work.

Let's change representation in gaming

Collaborating with our partners, Real Virtual Beauty is poised to transform representation in gaming, creating a truly positive place for women and girls.