Kelly Clarkson appeared on the cover of the September issue of Self in a photo that was so altered it looked nothing like her. She was very obviously Photoshopped thinner, and Self editor Lucy Danzinger wrote a haughty blog entry in response to the criticism saying that they’d only made Clarkson “look her personal best.” Danzinger also offered an anecdote about how she even had her own hips Photoshopped thinner – after running the marathon for goodness sake! Well if even you needed to get some airbrushing help, Lucy, we’ll forgive you for having your graphic artists make Clarkson look like a different person.
Clarkson talked to UK’s Heat magazine, and said that the controversy didn’t bother her exactly, but that she thought the photo looked like someone else. I’ve read Heat and they do run celebrity interviews that are legitimate and not cobbled-together pieces from other sources, as British magazine occasionally do. These look like new quotes, although without seeing the original article it’s hard to tell:
Now Clarkson has opened up about the controversy, admitting she was shocked by the pictures, but accepts all photo shoots inevitably involve the airbrush.
She tells Britain’s Heat magazine, “The whole airbrushing thing has gone crazy. I was like, ‘Who is that on the cover of the magazine?’ They were obviously not happy with what I look like. I’m not being mean about myself, but I just found it funny. I think it’s just one of those things that people have got so used to doing that they don’t even think twice about it.”
[From SFGate]
Kelly is right – they usually just make everyone look homogeneous and think that’s what the public expects. At least Self was forced to think twice about it when it became such a controversy in the media. Do you think Self will take some of the criticism to heart at all and start to feature larger models, as Glamour has done with size 12 model Lizzie Miller? I would bet that all Self does is decide never to use a cover model again that isn’t a thin, super-fit woman that they still airbrush to Barbie-level proportions. Editor Danzinger said that the Clarkson issue “the truest we have ever put out there on the newsstand.” Self’s idea of “true” is having to use a few extra keystrokes to achieve the illusion of perfection.
Danzinger should keep her mannish trap shut. At least Kelly Clarkson looks like a woman instead of a broad-shouldered, Madonna-armed shemale.
I don’t read it but I always thought Self was more of a be happy with who you are magazine. So I was surprised they photoshopped Kelly so much. I know all magazines photoshop but it’s gotten so out of control that people don’t look like themselves and it’s so obvious that photoshop was done. It used to be settle.
I figured they just used a younger picture when she was a little leaner.
If Kelly wants to be fat, let her be fat. If Madonna wants to be ripped, let her be ripped. It doesn’t make either any less or more a “real” woman. Magazines photoshop the hell out of people all of the time- ever seen wrinkles, pimples etc on a cover of Self or any other magazine? I don’t know why anyone is surprised.
I think it’s interesting that she says she didn’t recognize herself (obviously an exaggeration), when I think she is completely unrecognizable on the cover of her first album.
Yes, if she wants to be big, let her, I wish she’d wear more flattering clothing. Look at Adele.
Finally, I used to think Self was a little more of “live healthy and be happy with yourself” rather than “diet yourself into oblivion” but the pics of the editor I have seen and her remarks have shown me that it’s just another diet and fashion magazine. I think it does promote healthy ways to lose weight, though.
Eh…a little airbrushing to cover up pimples is to be expected, but this is way too much. They could’ve just made her wear a long sleeve shirt and used angles and lighting to make her look thinner if that’s what they wanted…this airbrushing looks fake and bad
wow! the picture on the left Kelly has alot of junk in her trunk! 🙂
niiiiiiiiiiiiice
I agree with Ligeia – this is way above and beyond what is pleasing. I would rather see Kelly as she is… and if they’re going to warp her this much then why even have her on the cover? She obviously does not represent what the magazine is trying to promote as she is. I think that’s more of a comment on the magazine & not Kelly, by the way. It makes no sense.
Kelly still got paid and she got the publicity. I doubt she really gives a crap. She knows the drill.
Dizzybenny, I agree. She looks much, much hotter on the left picture.
If they wanted a stranger on the cover why ask Kelly to feature? They not only changed her body they changed her face to where it doesn’t even look like her. And yes, I thought Self was about accepting yourself as you are. Clearly they didn’t accept Kelly for the beautiful girl she is and leave her the hell alone.
Hollywood has never accepted people for who they are, it’s the fakest place on earth. Entertainers are not paid to make themselves happy, they are paid to make other people happy. Surely Kelly had an idea that she would have ot change physically. Lose weight, no glasses, that sort of thing.
Nice to see some decent content amongst the dross that is now the internet.
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