Lately, we have been seeing an influx of robots and virtual reality figures filling up our timelines on social media. These engineered creations are all the craze, whether they’re being built in order to replace all of our jobs in ten years, for sexual purposes, or just to make our lives easier – humans seem to have a fascination with the virtual world. Now, the fashion world is going crazy over the newest high fashion supermodel; she’s black, she’s beautiful, and she’s the world’s first 3D Digital Supermodel. Some people are loving her, but some black women aren’t really feeling her.
Her name is Shudu and she already has over 90 thousand Instagram followers. No lie, at first glance I thought she was an actual person. The artist/photographer, Cameron James Wilson, did an amazing job creating this piece of art; and each digital image he creates of her takes approximately three days; and weeks of planning. But, here are a few reasons why some people believe we don’t need a virtual black model.
Shudu has already been in a Fenty Beauty Campaign.
That’s right, the digital image is now taking work from real women. Well actually, the money would be going into the hands of her creator. With the launch of this 3D model, will actual models have to start worrying about 3D graphics taking their jobs?
Cameron James Wilson is a white man that created this black virtual woman
Wilson, a photographer and an artist is a white man. No one can deny his talent and skill, however, people are tripping that a white man will be making revenue from the features and looks of black women. The thought of this work going to a 3D drawing and her owner, instead of a real person has many upset. Seems like a slap-in-the-face that an industry that already lacks in providing jobs to women of color, especially darker skinned women, will now accept a 3D image of a woman, but a white man will be paid for the imagery. Is this digital slavery?
Shudu’s look is inspired by actress Lupita Nyongo and super-model Alek Wek, along with a South African Barbie doll.
Don’t you hate when someone says their work was “inspired by”….just say you stole their look and now you’re making money off of it!
Shudu also has a male counterpart, Nfon.
Nfon is fine yall – i know, i know he’s a 3D image, but i’m just saying. While some are worried that these digital images will begin to take jobs from actual models – others see it as an opportunity to open some doors. Fashion designers will see the true beauty in these images and hire more black models – but, only time will tell.
Cameron Wilson is a photographer. Why not just hire dark-skinned female models and assist them in elevating their careers?
That’s the question many are asking, especially in an industry where women who look like Shudu are more disenfranchised than other models. High-fashion modeling is a mostly white industry. Many are wondering why Wilson just doesn’t hire actual black models.
However, some are saying Wilson is not just a photographer, he is an artist; no one has the right to tell him how to creatively express himself.
Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion
