A stone’s throw from a stage on Copacabana beach where Mick Jagger will sing and strut in front of more than 1 million people this weekend, a spitting image of the British rock star sticks his tongue out of the sand at passersby.
Thick red lips and four white upper teeth complete the sandy portrait of the 62-year-old lead singer and co-founder of the Rolling Stones.
“I’ve had to touch him up several times already because of the rain. Lots of people want to take photos,” said sand sculptor Isaac Soladade, 33, as he worked with his scalpel under the palm trees.
“It’s going to be the show of the century,” added Soladade, clad only in black shorts in the steamy summer heat. “Everyone can make a bit of money out of it.”
Rio’s municipality and telecommunications companies Claro and Motorola are financing Saturday’s free mega-show in front of the luxurious Copacabana Palace Hotel.