Abstract: With the rapid development of digital technology, virtual influencers have become an important carriers of corporate marketing practices. However, existing research lacks exploration of the growth process of virtual influencers. This study proposes the concept of virtual influencers personal brand through an interpretative research of a core datasets of six virtual influencers under a leading industry company's Weibo accounts. From the perspective of corporate-led marketing practices, a process model for the personal branding of virtual influencers is established in this research. The model highlights the role of e-motional practices, centered around character positioning and self-narration, in establishing the personal brand of virtual influencers. It also elucidates the narrative mechanisms that integrate the human aspect and the technological aspect of virtual influencers ,and the role of identity recognition and intuitive image-building in shaping their influence. Based on this, the study points out the directions that corporates need to focus on the practice of branding virtual influencers.

Key words: virtual influencer,  , personal brand, narrative, emotional culture