Model for Duran Duran's Iconic 'Rio' Cover Finally Identified

Last year, Duran Duran released their Halloween-themed album Dance of Death. Today, the pop-rock group finally revealed the identity of the woman on the cover of their 1982 album. Rio: a model named Marcie Hunt.

The work was illustrated by Patrick Nagel, and Instagram fan account @nagel_angel spent “countless hours” researching before coming across a reference photo in a 1981 issue of Vogue Paris. The news was shared by Nagel historian and art broker Monica Moynihan on the social media platform. Hunt commented on the Duran Duran repost: “This is so cool! I had absolutely no idea until now that this photo of me was being used for the Rio blanket. Very exciting! I love Duran Duran and often danced to their music in the 80s…and later at my wedding.

Nagel died two years after making the illustration, and his technical art assistant Barry Hahn reportedly confirmed that Hunt's photo inspired the artwork.