Getting IRL with Yung Cyber Princess

Yung Cyber Princess, or YCP is a digital creator and musician who makes digital art and visuals for herself as well as for brands like Telfar, Ella Loca and FreakCityLA. She creates a colourful, sexy world that is simultaneously low fi and futuristic.

Her universe features women in Y2K fashion with dramatic body shapes that she describes as the “bimbo aesthetic”. Her eye for beauty and styling create a feminine fantasy that makes you want to step in to it as a character. Come with us now on a journey of cyber style to find out where YCP sources all of her creativity.

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I first saw your work because of a video that you did for Telfar and it’s one of those occasions where I felt really excited about fashion. In a way where something is not too serious and it’s fun and powerful. Like watching a great music video.

Yes I try to be as relatable as possible and I try to follow the trends that everyone likes but also be original and have my own spin on it and that’s why people love it so much.

What other designers have you worked with- I saw you did something for Nosesso?

I’ve done about 4 ad’s for Telfar and I made art that got reposted by Nosesso that ended up being on Paper Magazine. I’ve done mostly a lot of creations for underground brands like Ella Loca and FreakCityLA .

What are some fashion moments that feed into these women you create and the scenarios they are in? I see Jean Paul Gautlier, Galliano, Juicy Couture, Telfar. I really am vintage-inspired when I see one of my fav artists wearing something that I like I try to make it into an outfit on IMVU. It’s been so many times where I’ve created something one of my favs have worn and put my own twist to it.

What are some of those favourite artists and your favourite vintage inspired looks that you are referencing?

My favourite artists would have to be Nicki Minaj and Lil’ Kim anything they wear I have to make it immediately and I love vintage JPG, Chanel, Pucci, and Versace I also create a lot of vintage streetwear.

What are some trends that are exciting you right now? Or that you're into?

I really love how there’s a lot of old trends that are coming back, hair and nails wise such as dramatic 90s updos and duck nails, and how a lot of Y2k fashion made a comeback too.

Especially monogrammed bags and bikini sets, Ed Hardy, and Von Dutch. It makes me feel so nostalgic. I like how black owned businesses are taking over and bringing in new creativity and I also loved a lot of the beauty trends that black women were doing on social media like bleached brows, reverse ombré hair, and platinum hair. I see that patchwork and stacked pants has become very popular in 2020/2021.

Almost everyone owns a Matacomplex type shirt, and a pair of stacked jeans. A lot of kawaii and scene core inspired trends are making a comeback as well. I could go on and on about the trends that are popular right now i’m very impressed with them.

You make music too. Are the visuals like a video for the music or how does one inform the other?

I do make music and I make music videos for the songs I make. I wanted Yung Cyber Princess to be something like the concept of Lil’ Miquela or Gorillaz where i’m the one making the music but I have this avatar as the spotlight.

What goes into these women that you create? What is the process?

I try to be as animated as possible in the avatars that I make I don’t want them to look realistic at all in a way I go for the bimbo aesthetic especially when it comes to their shape and that’s what people notice first.

Do you have storylines for these women? What is the creative process there? You think of a look or of a girl first, or of a storyline?

I never really come up with a storyline I kinda just see what I think looks good in my head and try to bring the concept to life. But when I’m making a look I definitely think of the girl first. How I’m going to do the hair and makeup and then I try to match that.

I don’t play video games but I would play a video game with these women that you make. Like - chose your player: pick a different 90s, y2k look and go rob a bank.

OMG so many people say that and it would be a dream come true to have my own video game or to collab with someone on one something like Bratz where they do tasks and make looks too. I would definitely see myself working on something like that in the future

What makes a YCP girl? If you had to describe the women that you create what are some of the characteristics that make the girl a YCP girl?

Being a YCP girl is being bold, beautiful, colourful. Standing out from everyone in the room and most importantly being yourself unapologetically. A YCP girl most definitely has colourful wigs, eyeshadow, and eyebrows and long nails and lots of piercings and jewellery… They definitely are confident and are the ones that are starting the trends and never following them.

Words: Sabina Vanegas | Imagery: Yung Cyber Princess