A 15-year-old girl who transforms herself into a 'living doll' for YouTube videos has become a global star after attracting a staggering ten million hits.
Venus Palermo, who poses in doll-like clothing and offers tips to viewers on turning themselves into living dolls, has become an internet sensation thanks to her tips on achieving the bizarre look.
Together, the hits on her YouTube channel now total more than 10 million, with one video - How To Look Like A Doll - attracting almost 1.7m viewers alone.
Many of those viewing the videos are rapturous about the young girl's appearance, taking to the comments boards in their droves to remark upon her wide eyes, clever make-up application or rose-bud lips.
Others are damning, with one pointing out that a 15-year-old girl should have more concerns than an obsession with make-up.
'You look and sound like a complete freak,' one user wrote. 'You're 15 - you don't need make-up! You should get some counselling. You had no father in your life and your mum obviously treated you like a doll as you're all she had. You shouldn't post videos on here encouraging normal kids to your WEIRD and unnatural ways.'
Another wrote it was 'narrow-minded' to be so focused on one's appearance. 'Seeing young girls changing themselves and not loving their body or face and still doing nothing, this is narrow-minded, my friend.'
Coming out in her defence, another user wrote that in Japan, such 'Lolita' styling is completely normal.
'On the contrary, Venus is not conforming to the ridiculous standards that society considers "pretty" and is simply following the 'Lolita' style that is very popular in eastern Asia,' they wrote. 'Also, why do you feel the need to be so rude? You may not like this video but that does not give you the right to insult a young girl, it's just being downright rude and narrow-minded.'
Last week, MailOnline reported that Venus, known online as Venus Angelic, had appeared on ITV morning television programme Daybreak along with her mother, who defended her daughter's choice of lifestyle.
Presenter Helen Fospero said she would be 'horrified' if her own daughter wanted to dress like a doll, saying it was 'not normal'. But Margaret Palermo claimed her teenaged daughter was an 'innocent and good girl who likes frills and ribbons'.
Margaret, from Brixton, South West London, responded: 'I would be horrified if she came home pregnant, I am not horrified if she is innocent and good girl who likes cute clothes and frills and ribbons.'
'I am absolutely fine with that, her face is already doll-like and if she likes the style I am fine with it, I would be more worried if she came home drunk or smoked.'
Inspired by the craze for Japanese anime, Venus set about changing her look to that of a porcelain doll after a trip to the country.
Venus said:'I was always like this, I liked to dress in frilly dresses and tie my hair in pigtails, then I discovered how and what I really want to be as a teenager.
'A lot of people like the look and I want to help them achieve it.'
Venus, who dresses as a doll every day, explained she takes only 15 minutes to achieve the look using powder, light pink eyeshadow, mascara, lip liner and gloss.
Support: Venus's mother Margaret Palermo appeared on Daybreak last week to defend her daughter's obsession with looking like a 'living doll'
One of her top tips is to use contact lenses with a full, opaque colour to make your eyes look doll-like.
While the living doll-look is going global, in Asia it has been a long-running trend.
As early as 2010 it was reported that an increasing amount of Japanese women were aspiring to look like dolls, embracing femininity and obliterating sexuality altogether.
Experts however have expressed their concern the trend could encourage the sexualisation of children.
Dr Gray, clinical director at The British CBT & Counselling Service (www.thebritishcbtcounsellingservice.co.uk) warned that too much emphasis on physical appearance from an early age could have 'disastrous consequences', encouraging anxiety, depression and eating disorders later in life.
She told MailOnline: 'At any age placing too much value on physical appearance can be potentially detrimental to a person’s self esteem and sense of self worth.
'Equally concerning is why these images have been created and for what purpose.
'Distorting or enhancing pictures of children so that they appear older and more sexual surely crosses the line between how we should treat the children in our society and how we should not.'
VIDEO: I would be horrified if she came home pregnant...she is a good girl who likes frills and ribbons, Margaret Palermo tells Daybreak
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