A SECOND LIFE woman has become an unlikely feminist icon after livestreaming herself building virtual objects to prove that girls can succeed in a man's world. Scarlett Moonbeam regularly broadcasts inspirational building sessions under the slogan "LOOK WHAT THIS LITTLE GIRL CAN DO IN A MAN'S WORLD!" Scarlett is actually a 52-year-old man called Gary. This has not prevented her becoming a powerful role model for Second Life's female community, a significant proportion of whom are also 52-year-old men called Gary.
"I want girls to see me and realise they can do anything," said Scarlett, while moving a plywood cube three metres to the left. "Building has traditionally been such a male-dominated environment." Her audience, including Tiffany, Crystal, Amber and Mistress RavenDark, nodded supportively from spare bedrooms occupied by middle-aged men.
GIRL POWER
Scarlett's livestreams typically involve three hours of "building live", during which viewers watch her rotate an object 90 degrees, accidentally delete a wall and spend 25 minutes trying to find something in inventory. "This is what female empowerment looks like," she announced after successfully changing a texture. Comments immediately appeared, including "YOU GO GIRL!", "QUEEN!", "SO TALENTED!" and "Women supporting women!" At least three were subsequently traced to men called Dave.
Scarlett insists she chose a female avatar because women remain underrepresented in Second Life, particularly among enormous-breasted 23-year-olds wearing thigh boots. "I just feel more myself as Scarlett," said Gary. "And I think it's important that little girls know they can succeed in this world." No actual little girls are permitted to use Second Life.
BECOMING FAMOUS
Friends say Gary's real ambition is to become one of Second Life's most famous women. Scarlett denies this. "I don't do any of this for attention," she explained during her fourth livestream of the week about herself. Her profile describes her as "Builder. Creator. Event Organiser. Influencer. Visionary." Friends say she remains incredibly grounded and will happily talk to anybody, provided they already know who she is.
Scarlett insists fame has never been the objective. "I'd hate to become one of those people who's famous just for being famous," said Gary, shortly before posting another photograph of Scarlett captioned: "WATCH THIS SPACE. HUGE THINGS COMING."
AN EVENT YOU CANNOT MISS
Scarlett also organises events routinely advertised as "ABSOLUTELY UNMISSABLE". Last month's unmissable event involved 34 avatars standing around a fountain while a DJ played house music. Anyone who missed it appears to have survived.
This weekend she is hosting another "MUST NOT MISS" event featuring three DJs, fireworks, giveaways and something described only as "AN EXPERIENCE". Residents have been warned it could be "the biggest night Second Life has EVER seen". The biggest night Second Life has ever seen is scheduled between Scarlett's other biggest night Second Life has ever seen last Thursday and another one next Tuesday. "People will be talking about this for years," Scarlett said. Nobody could remember what the last one was called.
BREAKING BARRIERS
At the end of her latest livestream, Scarlett successfully linked four prims together. The chat exploded with messages including "THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE!", "PROUD OF YOU!" and "WHO RUN THE WORLD? GIRLS!" Scarlett smiled modestly. Across Second Life, thousands of other middle-aged men dressed as women looked on proudly.
Gary had finally proved that women can do anything men can do.
Especially if they are men.