The mystery woman on the cover of Duran Duran’s iconic Rio album has finally been identified after 42 years.
The band’s sophmore album was released in 1982 and features one of the most iconic album covers of all time; an illustrated image of a smiling woman.
The band commissoned Playboy illustrator Patrick Nagle to create the image and now it has been revealed he based the illustration on a photo of the model Marcie Hunt taken for Vogue France in February 1981.
The reveal was announced by Nagle historian Monica Moynihan with Marcie’s identity uncovered by another instagram user @nagel_angel.
She wrote: ‘My friend @nagel_angel has spent $$ and countless hours to hunt this down! He deserves all the credit on this discovery and also did the AI layout to prove it! ‘Hungry Like The Wolf’ he is indeed! TY!
The band’s sophmore album was released in 1982 and features one of the most iconic album covers of all time; an illustrated image of a smiling woman
Duran Duran were formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist Andy Taylor (L-R John, Simon Le Bon, Andy, Nick and Roger Taylor)
While one mystery is revealed … another mystery still presents itself. Who is the model for our modern day ‘Mona Lisa’ ? Edit: Model is Marcie Hunt @marciehunt1 & Thank you @ser.sarah.bastos for helping identify her.’
Marcie herself had no idea her photo was used as the inspiration for the album cover but confirmed she was a huge fan of the band.
Commenting from her wine company Dos Lagos’ Instagram account, she wrote: ‘This is so cool! I absolutely did not know until now that this photo of me was used for the Rio cover. Very exciting!
‘Love Duran Duran, and danced to their music often in the 80s. And later at my husband, Tom’s and my wedding. Thank you all for your wonderful comments. And yes, I’m still alive!’
Marcie then took to her personal Instagram account to again express her joy at the discovery.
She wrote: ‘Hi all, the reason I haven’t posted here is that I spent many years posting on #doslagos on Instagram. Our wine company is Dos Lagos Vineyards.
‘Thanks everyone for the big reveal! It’s so exciting to know that I am also Rio on the cover of Duran Duran. One of my all time favorite groups.
‘And that the smile brought so much luck to these multi talented musicians. Thanks to Patrick Nagel the illustrator, who is no longer with us.
Marcie herself had no idea her photo was used as the inspiration for the album cover but confirmed she was a huge fan of the band.
Marcie then took to her personal Instagram account to again express her joy at the discovery
‘@nagel_angelwho did so much research, and #patricknagelarts. Also Lyndsey Parker’s great article at musictimes.com on June 10th.’
Duran Duran also reposted the original post revealing Marcie’s identity to their own Instagram account.
Several fans of the band also commented on the discovery, writing: ‘Still have the poster framed!’… ‘Wow so surprised! She is the muse of Rio’.
Others wrote: ‘@marciehunt1 – your smile is gorgeous!’… ‘Wow I’ve been looking at her for a very long time, since I was a little girl.’
Duran Duran were formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor.
Several fans of the band also commented on the discovery, writing: ‘Still have the poster framed!’… ‘Wow so surprised! She is the muse of Rio’.
Duran Duran, which has gone through several line-up changes, have released 16 albums during their career and have sold over 100 million records (pictured in 2004)
Their most famous line-up was formed by 1980 when lead singer Simon Le Bon and guitarist Andy Taylor were added.
The band, which has gone through several line-up changes, have released 16 albums during their career and have sold over 100 million records.
They have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
