The model from Duran Duran's 'Rio' has finally been revealed and she had no idea

The mystery behind this iconic '80s album cover has finally been solved!

Since Duran Duran released Rio in 1982, fans have speculated about who the model is in Patrick Nagel’s illustration and now, thanks to social media, the model has been revealed as Marcie Hunt.

The artwork was originally painted by American artist and illustrator Patrick Nagel and designed by Malcolm Garrett to resemble classic '50s cigar packaging.

The Instagram account @nagel_angel, which is run by Patrick Nagel historian and art broker Monica Moynihan, spent "countless hours" figuring out where the reference photo had come from before uncovering that it was from a 1981 issue of Vogue Paris. 

“Patrick Nagel fans, today we publicly reveal Duran Duran’s Rio May 1982 album cover image source from Vogue Paris, February 1981,” Monica captioned the post which Duran Duran reshared.

The model was Marcie Hunt, now known as Marcie Dinkel, who reportedly retired from modelling in favour of a more private life. 

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Marcie commented on Duran Duran’s repost to share that she had no clue her Vogue shoot was used as the reference for the cover.

"This is so cool! I absolutely did not know until now that this photo of me was used for the Rio cover," she wrote. "Very exciting! Love Duran Duran, and danced to their music often in the 80s…and later at my wedding."

She also shared this to her own Instagram writing, "“Thanks so much to the illustrator of this album cover, Patrick Nagel, who is no longer with us. And now Barry Hahn, his technical assistant who confirmed that the cover and smile is inspired by this photo."

So cool!