Dove Real Beauty Sketches video is most watched ad in online history

When Dove launched its Real Beauty Sketches advert in April, it became an instant internet sensation and is now the most watched advert in online history.

The ad, which sees women drawn by a police forensic sketch artist first according to their own descriptions and then the descriptions of others, has been viewed more than 114 million times on YouTube and other video sharing sites.

According to Mashable, the ad overtook the Evian Roller-babies ad, which has been viewed 111-million times, to take top spot on the list.

“The moment that the Dove Real Beauty Sketches film was uploaded to the Dove YouTube page, it quickly started to gain traction around the world with men, women, media and even other brands sharing the film,” said Fernando Machado, VP of Dove Skin, in a statement. “The campaign evoked an emotional reaction in millions of people that inspired them to share the positive message with others. Beyond just the millions of views and publicity impressions, it is the outpouring of testimonials from around the world that are exciting us.”

The ad has reportedly been uploaded in 25 languages to 33 of the company’s global YouTube accounts. “The ‘Dove Real Beauty Sketches’ campaign struck an emotional chord with millions of women who recognize that they are their own worst beauty critic,” Dove parent company Unilever said.