Self Magazine Admits: We Altered Kelly Clarkson’s Cover Shot
August 12th, 2009
The editor of Self magazine has admitted that they digitally slimmed-down the photo of singer Kelly Clarkson on the cover their latest issue, after the clearly altered image caused readers to question the credibility of the publication.
Lucy Danziger, editor-in-chief of the women’s health magazine, defended the magazine’s retouching of the 27-year-old singer, which she says was undertaken to make Clarkson “look her personal best” on the September issue.
“Yes. Of course we do retouching,” Danziger writes in a post on Self.com.
“Did we alter her appearance? Only to make her look her personal best. Did we publish an act of fiction? No. Not unless you think all photos are that.”
Calling Clarkson “the picture of confidence,” Danzinger also writes, “I think this photo is the truest we have ever put out there on the newsstand.”
That’s not quite the same opinion that readers have formed. One posted an online comment on jezebel.com, saying: “Taking out red eye and airbrushing a pimple would be making her look her personal best. You completely changed the way her body looked. Why even bother asking Kelly Clarkson to pose in your magazine if you didn’t think her body fit into your idea of what was best?”
View the behind the scenes footage of Clarkson shooting her Self cover here:
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August 12th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I cannot even BELIEVE that you airbrushed Kelly Clarkson to the point where she is unrecognizable on the cover of Self. You said that you did this because you "want to her look her best." WHAT AN INSULT TO KELLY!! She's not "good enough" or "pretty enough" or "enough" of what you feel should be "her best"??? Have you ever stopped to think about the damage you could do to someone because they can't live up to your ridiculous standard of what is "best?"
I'm never buying your magazine again. Really. Your standard of what is "best" for someone is totally unrealistic and unhealthy. You are rude, demeaning and snobbish. If you didn't think Kelly looked "her best," then you should never have invited her to be in your magazine.