The mystery subject behind one of the most iconic album covers of the ’80s has finally been revealed. For decades, fans have speculated about the identity of the inspiration for illustrator Patrick Nagel’s artwork for Duran Duran’s Rio, who has now been revealed as model Marcie Hunt.
In an Instagram post, Patrick Nagel historian and art broker Monica Moynihan explained the fan account @nagel_angel spent “countless hours” figuring out the reference photo for the album cover was pulled from a 1981 issue of Vogue Paris.
“Patrick Nagel fans, today we publicly reveal Duran Duran’s Rio May 1982 album cover image source from Vogue Paris, February 1981,” Moynihan wrote. Even Duran Duran joined the celebration with a repost.
Hunt reportedly retired from modeling in favor of a more private life, but jumped into the comments of Duran Duran’s repost to reveal that even she was unaware of the fact that her Vogue editorial shoot was used as a reference for the cover.
“This is so cool! I absolutely did not know until now that this photo of me was used for the Rio cover,” she wrote. “Very exciting! Love Duran Duran, and danced to their music often in the 80s…and later at my wedding.”
In an Instagram post of her own, Hunt added, “Thanks so much to the illustrator of this album cover, Patrick Nagel, who is no longer with us. And now Barry Hahn, his technical assistant who confirmed that the cover and smile is inspired by this photo.”
This year, Duran Duran have been on the festival circuit, sharing cuts from their 2023 album at Cruel World, with a slot at Montreux Jazz Festival on the horizon for July.