Duckie Thot “Black Barbie” covers Paper Magazine’s Latest Issue

Self-taught model Duckie Thot is the sixth cover star for Paper Magazine‘s Beautiful People edition

The 21-year-old who is of South Sudanese heritage in under a year has made a long-lasting impression on the modeling industry. She has worked with top designers like Pat McGrath, Kanye West, Naeem Khan,  Rihanna, Baja East, Norma Kamali and Ulyana Sergeenko.

However, Duckie talks with the magazine about a time when she wasn’t getting any work due to the color of her skin.

I literally got nothing, I didn’t understand why, but I wasn’t getting any work. I think it was a very confusing part of my life for me. I was just this little black girl in Australia just being like, ‘Oh yeah, I want to do modeling,’ but while also being in a country that doesn’t promote black models. It was kind of like a mindf**k all in itself anyways, so I didn’t really get how far I was going to go with it.

After finishing third in the 8th edition of Australia’s Next Top Model, she decided it was time to move to New York and things really kicked off for her from then.

Duckie has been nicknamed Black Barbie due to her perfect features and she says she is embracing the title.

Those are some pretty high expectations. Barbie is this perfect thing that walks around and I’m definitely not perfect. I’m so happy that people say that about me because it basically is a lovely thing to be introduced to the world as this Black Barbie. I will take the title.

She shared her cover photo on her Twitter page with the caption:

I remember being bullied in high school by other kids for the way I looked and today I’m on the cover of @papermagazine Beyond grateful!! ?

I remember being bullied in high school by other kids for the way I looked and today I’m on the cover of @papermagazine Beyond grateful!! ? pic.twitter.com/9ksG3R9C8W

— Duckie Thot (@duckie_thot) September 16, 2017

On what is to come for her in terms of career and personal projects she said:

I’m not giving away my secrets because I have plenty of things to come. I’m sure you’ll be shocked by what realm Duckie ends up in next. It will throw people off. I think it’s going to add something completely different to my character.

See more photos from the cover shoot

Read the full cover story on www.papermag.com

Credits
Photography: Paola Kudacki | @paolakudacki
Styling: @jasonrembert
Hair: Lacy Redway | @lacyredway for The Wall Group
Makeup:  Ralph Siciliano | @ralphsiciliano
Nails: Casey Herman | @caseynails