Months after their introduction on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, 3D avatars are now available for WhatsApp users throughout the world to use as profile pictures or personalised stickers.

WhatsApp will soon support avatars, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Wednesday. This news comes after months of beta testing, which were initially revealed by WhatsApp beta tracker WABetaInfo back in June.

WhatsApp said in a blog post that its users may select an avatar of their own design to serve as their profile picture, or use one of 36 bespoke stickers designed to convey a range of emotions and behaviours. There is a striking resemblance between WhatsApp’s avatar stickers and those found on Snap’s Bitmoji and Apple’s Memoji.

The developers of the ubiquitous messaging software explained, “Your avatar is a digital image of you that can be constructed from billions of combinations of varied hair styles, facial characteristics, and costumes.”

WhatsApp also promised users that they would gradually gain access to new lighting, shading, and hair texture options.

Once WhatsApp’s avatar feature is put out, users may make their own via the app’s Settings. According to a detailed FAQ page, the messaging app will also add a ‘Use Avatar’ option in the profile photo settings, allowing users to create their virtual doppelganger as a profile photo.

Meta brought 3D avatars to Facebook and Messenger in 2019 that resemble Bitmoji. Although the United States wasn’t included in the first deployment, the social media behemoth eventually made its way over the pond in 2020. Avatars were added to Instagram at the end of January, too.

It’s currently unknown whether WhatsApp avatars are exclusive to the chat app or may be used in conjunction with other Meta services. We’ve contacted WhatsApp for further information on this.