Shudu , the world’s first digital supermodel, was created by photographer Cameron-James Wilson in April 2017. Her appearance draws largely from the “Princess of South Africa” Barbie doll, with flawless skin, full lips, and symmetrical facial features. Despite being a digital creation, Shudu has managed to captivate the fashion world with her stunning looks, even fooling some into believing she is real. Her digital presence extends beyond her own account, with Wilson digitizing real human models by creating look-alike 3-D characters.
Shudu’s digital debut was marked by her appearance in various fashion campaigns and editorials, showcasing her versatility and range. Her captivating appearance, adorned with iindzila neck rings reminiscent of the Ndebele people of South Africa, quickly amassed a following. Her photos, shared on pages championing women of color, were accompanied by admiring hashtags such as #blackisbeautiful, #melanin, and #blackgirlsrock.
The character has generated controversy as Shudu, depicted as a black woman, was created by a white man. Critics accused Wilson of racial expropriation, arguing that he was profiting from the “movement” of dark-skinned women without truly understanding their experiences. Wilson, however, maintained that his intentions were pure and that he was simply creating a work of art inspired by the beauty of black women.
Despite the controversy, Shudu’s popularity has continued to grow, with her digital presence extending beyond her own account. Wilson has digitized real human models by creating look-alike 3-D characters, further blurring the lines between reality and digital creation. Shudu’s success has also led to the creation of other CGI models, such as Miquela Sousa, who has been promoting merchandise and social causes on social media since 2016.
Shudu is touted as the world’s first digital supermodel. With a strong presence in editorial and sponsored fashion photography, she has worked with luxury fashion brands like Karl Lagerfeld and Louis Vuitton. She also collaborated with BMW to promote the car maker’s new Freude Forever magazine. Boasting more than 230,000 followers, Shudu’s Instagram features hyper-realistic images of her posing in 3D garments, in digital concept cars and with other models (both real and virtual).
Shudu was created by British fashion photographer Cameron-James Wilson, who was commissioned by fashion label Balmain to design a “diverse mix” of digital models called the Diigitals.
- Instagram handle: @shudu.gram
- Instagram followers: 200,000+
- Creator: Balmain and Cameon-James Wilson (2017)
