I don’t remember my username, but I remember her perfectly.

She was tall, slim, and effortlessly cool. Her long brunette hair flowed down her back, and her default outfit—a green crop top with skinny jeans—gave off confident, model-off-duty energy. Her skin was light and sun-kissed. Her eyes were blue. She looked nothing like me.

I was a dark-skinned Nigerian girl growing up in suburban New Jersey, surrounded by classmates whose blonde hair and pale complexions dominated every hallway. My own hair was braided into short cornrows, close to my scalp. I felt small in more ways than one—shorter, darker, different.

In the mirror, I imagined lighter skin. In the metaverse, I created it.

Why So Many Gamers Design “Different” Avatars

Avatar customization is one of gaming’s most powerful tools. It lets players experiment with identity, style, and even personality. But for many marginalized players, it’s not just about experimentation—it’s about survival.

In a space where I could design myself from scratch, I didn’t choose authenticity. I chose assimilation. I built an avatar that mirrored the beauty standards constantly reinforced around me. She was what I thought I had to be to be admired.

Virtual worlds like IMVU have long allowed deep customization. With a marketplace boasting over 50 million items and 400,000 new products added monthly, players can create almost any look imaginable. But historically, representation gaps shaped what felt “normal” or “desirable.”

That’s starting to change.

The Role of a Creator-Driven Economy

IMVU’s platform thrives on user-generated content. With 7 million monthly active users and 14 billion Credits exchanged each month, its economy is fueled by creators. Recently, IMVU introduced VCoin, a blockchain-based cryptocurrency approved under SEC guidance. Users can now transfer VCoin peer-to-peer and convert it into Ethereum or U.S. dollars.

Why does that matter for identity?

Because when creators are fairly compensated, diversity expands. Black designers, for example, can build natural hair packs, protective styles, deeper complexion options, and culturally inspired fashion—and earn real value for their work. Smart contracts built on Ethereum allow secure, transparent transactions, empowering serious creators to treat their craft like a business.

When the economy rewards authenticity, representation grows.

Gaming as a Space for Healing

If I logged in today as that younger version of myself, I might design someone different. Not because I’m forced to, but because I’d feel freer to.

The evolution of virtual economies means that identity is no longer just cosmetic—it’s supported by infrastructure. Whether players fund their customization through earned VCoin or by Buy IMVU Game Card to quickly access new items, they’re participating in a system that increasingly values diverse expression.

For young Black girls entering these digital spaces now, the experience can be radically different. Instead of defaulting to Eurocentric features, they can scroll through rich skin tones that match their own. They can choose hairstyles that mirror their lived experiences. They can see themselves represented not as exceptions, but as options.

That visibility matters. It shapes confidence in subtle but powerful ways.

Conclusion

My first avatar was an attempt to escape the discomfort I felt in my own skin. The metaverse gave me a mask, and I wore it eagerly. But as platforms evolve—financially and culturally—they’re becoming spaces where players don’t have to hide.

Through creator-driven marketplaces, blockchain-backed currencies like VCoin, and expanding customization options, virtual worlds are moving toward something more inclusive. For gamers like me, that shift transforms the metaverse from a place of imitation into a place of affirmation.

And sometimes, the most powerful character you can create is the one who finally looks like you.