Zendaya calls out fashion magazine for retouched photos
Modeliste Magazine pulled the issue after the actor posted the original photo next to the manipulated one, in which her hips and thighs are slimmed down
Actress and singer Zendaya has spoken out against Modeliste Magazine, after the fashion publication published photoshopped images of the 19-year-old for its November issue cover spread.
Upon the release of the photos, Zendaya called attention to how her image had been retouched in a post on Instagram. Posting the retouched photo alongside the real photo, she noted how her body had been “quite manipulated”. In the retouched photo, Zendaya’s hips appear flattened and her legs slimmed down.
“These are the things that make women self conscious, that create the unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have. Anyone who knows who I am knows I stand for honest and pure self love,” she wrote in the caption.
Editors at Modeliste reacted quickly and pulled the issue. They are now working with Zendaya to publish un-edited photos.
“We understand that retouching of photos is a sensitive subject not only in the fashion industry but across all media,” Modeliste said in a statement.
The magazine’s editor-in-chief, Amy McCabe, noted on Instagram that the retouched images were submitted to the magazine from “an independent editing company”.
McCabe wrote that she was personally contacted by Zendaya about the photographs in question.
“Upon review of the final edited images ... together as a collaborative between myself, Zendaya and her parents, we concluded that the images had been retouched to an extent that was not acceptable and not true to the values and ideals we represent and promote in our publication.”
Modeliste’s website says an “unedited edit” of Zendaya’s cover is coming soon, which McCabe said would “reflect the true beauty and radiance of Zendaya”.
Zendaya has been outspoken in the past when criticised for her appearance. In February, she called out TV host Giuliana Rancic for saying her Oscars hairstyle suggested the star smelled of patchouli oil or marijuana.
“To say that an 18 year old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or ‘weed’ is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive,” Zendaya, whose father is African American, wrote in a long post on Twitter.
