Dove Real Beauty Sketches gets millions of views

According to Unruly Media, which tracks the popularity of viral videos, "It has surpassed all previously recorded video ads, is the most-shared video in more than a year and the third most shared of all time."

Released last month, it features San Francisco forensic artist Gil Zamora as he draws a number of women, sitting behind a curtain out of his view, relying exclusively on how they describe themselves to him. He then produces a second set of drawings - invariably more flattering - based on descriptions provided by strangers.

The video goes on to capture the subjects' startled reactions upon seeing the resulting images. "The Dove Real Beauty Sketches campaign struck an emotional chord with millions of women who recognize that they are their own worst beauty critic," Unilever said.

Unilever launched a so-called Campaign for Real Beauty nine years ago in Britain to pitch Dove, a moisturising soap, to 'real women', in a world of Photoshopped celebrities and models.

For more, go to www.dove.com, the Facebook page or join the conversation at #wearebeautiful.