Digital World: Virtual Supermodels - RARE Magazine

By Trystanne Cunningham

She’s stunningly beautiful and has more than 147k Instagram followers and counting. But Shudu isn’t your average Insta-famous model. In fact, she’s completely fake. Created by London-based photographer and extremely talented digital artist and photographer Cameron-James Wilson, Shudu is a product of 3D imaging and Wilson’s imagination.

With her flawless skin, long limbs, and artfully curated Instagram account, Shudu has been making waves online for months. Her profile skyrocketed after Fenty Beauty reposted a photo of her “modeling” its Saw-C lipstick. Soon enough, people began to question whether she was just a little too perfect and Wilson was forced to reveal the truth. He admitted that she was a figment of his imagination and updated Shudu’s Instagram bio to clarify that she isn’t human. It now reads, “World’s First Digital Supermodel.” Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, Wilson said Shudu was simply a way for him to express his creativity.

One glance at her pictures is enough to make you double take. She has pores, errant eyebrow hairs, tiny little wrinkles, and a generally human-like vibe.

But how and why did this happen? Shudu was designed to be in her mid- to late-20s and from South Africa. Her name, popular with the Ndebele people of that country, was chosen by an early follower from the area who messaged Wilson to congratulate him on his realistic portrayal.