LOS ANGELES—Using survey responses from more than 50,000 visitors, adult site xHamster has created a user-generated woman that represents the combined desires of the global community. "Shy Yume," a 25-year-old, 5-foot-5 Eurasian bisexual is the new public face of the site, and will interact with users over social media and beyond. She debuted on Instagram this morning.
"We're so pleased to welcome Shy to the xHamster family," says Alex Hawkins, vice president of xHamster. "She is the representation of our community's collective id, and we look forward to having her grow with us and our users. She is the Galatea to our users' Pygmalion."
The survey, comprised of more than 50,000 responses from men, women and non-binary respondents in over 150 countries, asked users to detail specific physical characteristics of their 'dreamgirl,' from hair color to eye color to breast size to age—as well as other characteristics, such as feminist identification. (Globally, 43% of users felt the dreamgirl should be a feminist, but dragged down in part by lower levels of support in the US (36%) and Germany (25%).)
Perhaps most notably, given the industry's fixation on extreme features, most users did not request outsized breasts or a tiny waist. Most users instead said they wanted a woman who was 'curvy,' but had an average-sized breast, rear and waist.
"This study shows that consumers are shifting away from cartoonish proportions, in favor of someone who is a more realistic, naturally proportioned woman," said Hawkins. "We hope that Shy can present a face and body to xHamster users that is forward thinking, and not some media-produced fantasy."
As for her feminist identification, Hawkins says the survey results were interesting — but that part isn't entirely up to users. "A real feminist doesn't ask someone's permission as to how to think. We'll see how Shy develops as a her own person."
Users can meet Shy, with a full gallery of images, on Instagram.
For information on the study, including specific results, click here.
