Doc claims AI account stole her face and voice to hawk…

In July 2026, Dr. Nicole James, a dermatologist and social media creator, discovered that an Instagram account was using AI to impersonate her and sell hair products. The account, @amaragrows, repurposed dozens of videos from her legitimate channel to target her established community under false pretenses.

What happened

The impersonator account utilized clips from Dr. James's existing Instagram and TikTok content, where she provides dermatology and haircare tips. Using AI synthesis, the perpetrators altered her voice to sound American and applied a digital filter to age her face by approximately 20 years. These manipulated videos were edited to include a deceptive endorsement for Lebanta hair oil at the end of her original medical advice.

Dr. James, who built her platform to provide trusted skincare information for the Black community, first learned of the impersonation when a follower alerted her to the content. Although the original videos were filmed in her Chicago apartment, the AI-modified versions made her appear significantly older, leading her to describe the experience as dystopian. Despite Dr. James and her followers reporting the account for intellectual property theft and impersonation, the platform took no action. The incident highlights the growing challenge of protecting professional identity and consumer trust as AI tools make it increasingly easy to hijack a creator's likeness for unauthorized commercial gain.