A photographer created the world’s first digital supermodel and the internet is not happy
Image via @shudu.gram/Instagram
Meet Shudu.
Shudu is the world’s first digital supermodel, who’s amassed over 55k Instagram followers and has had her image reposted by Fenty Beauty.
She’s 100 per cent computer-generated and was created by London-based photographer Cameron James Wilson.
Initially, Wilson presented Shudu to the world as a real-life model, but revealed her true identity in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar.
“Basically Shudu is my creation, she’s my art piece that I am working on at the moment,” Wilson explained.
“She is not a real model unfortunately, but she represents a lot of the real models of today. There’s a big kind of movement with dark skin models, so she represents them and is inspired by them.”
This comment sparked immediate controversy on the internet, with many calling out Wilson for profiting off ‘the movement of dark skin models’ without paying one. Considering the current underrepresentation of black women in the fashion industry, the ‘hiring’ of Shudu by a white male is a little problematic.
Black models, specifically dark skin Black models are not a trend though. We should be the norm. Ok. Even though Shudu is a beautiful digital creation, I hope that he can shoot with real dark skin Black models and pay them accordingly too. https://t.co/2FGTZ2IoEm
— ?ecca (@MJFinesseLover) 27 February 2018
First of all, the Black community is not a “trend”
Second of all, just shoot with a real Black model??? Why does this exist. https://t.co/QDKtKisUoY— crocodile (@pairating) 28 February 2018
As much as I appreciate art I detest the fact that the minute dark skin is finally glamourized by the mainstream media a white man finds a way to commericalize & capitalize off it. Black skin is not a trend. Black skin is not a toy. Black women even more not so. #Shudu #FreeShudu pic.twitter.com/pu79IGcU1s
— Sonia Pratt (@adrianette_) 28 February 2018
The ‘model’ was originally reposted on Fenty Beauty’s Instagram in February wearing the brand’s Saw-C lipstick. However, there’s no word on whether or not Fenty Beauty knew the model was computer-generated.
You can check out Shudu’s scarily lifelike Instagram here.