Current Events II

Karlie Kloss and Photo Scandal

Karlie is a famous American model who is one of the Victoria’s Secret Angels. She has been often attacked for her unhealthy skinny body and society accuses her of suffering from anorexia.

Karlie Kloss. Digital image. GQ Magazine Online: Look Sharp, Live Smart.
N.p., 12 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 May 2014.

In September 2012, the scandalous photograph of 20 year-old Karlie, photoshooted for Japanese magazine, Numéro, was replicated all around the world. More precisely, its unretouched one. Karlie’s body was digitally altered in a totally opposite way that is considered to be typical for these kinds of images. The editors made her body “appear less skinny (Ffolkes)”. As you can see, in the first picture the model appear to be very slim, however here, her body does not represent the anorexia in itself.  In contrast, the body in the real photo is evacuating in itself and immediately brings the idea about the eternal connection between models and eating disorders.

Photo-editors of magazine Numéro had to deal with a large scale of dissatisfaction from the photographer, Greg Kadel, Karlie and her fans. They argue that the original depiction of Karlie was better than the airbrushed one, because the photographer tend to show Karlie as naturally beautiful, tall and athletic girl. Twitter was full of the responses to magazine’s photoshopped actions and the admiration for Karlie’s skeletal body: “I prefer Kadel's original to Numéro's manipulation. Anyone who stretches back like that will have their ribs show through. It's natural; unlike the edited image (qtd. in Ffolkes).”

Kadel, Greg. Karlie. Digital image. Mail Online.
Associated Newspapers, 29 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 May 2014.

It was not the first time when the photographs of Karlie caused a huge commotion. When Italian Vogue presented the image of skinny Karlie, many pro-anorectic websites started to post this photograph. After this scandal, the Vogue withdrawed the picture from its official websites and to the whole affair does not response anymore (Ffolkes).

Vogue Italia. Digital image. Mamamia: What Everyone's Talking About.
N.p., 4 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 May 2014.

                                                                                                                                                   

Source: Ffolkes, Bianca. "Model KarlieKloss' Ribs Airbrushed out of Numéro Magazine Photo." Yahoo Lifestyle UK. N.p., 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 May 2014.2014.