Magazine Pulled After Zendaya Expressed Disappointment With Excessive Retouching

The retouched version on the left, the unretouched version on the right. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

As if the world didn’t know by now—don’t mess with Zendaya. The popstar commands a very loyal army of followers, and has no problem calling you out in front of her 13.8 million Instagram followers. The Casey Undercover actress appears on the cover of Modeliste magazine’s November issue, and their art department made the mistake of retouching the wrong girl. When the Disney darling laid eyes on the final print, she shared her disappointment.

“Had a new shoot come out today and was shocked when I found my 19-year-old hips and torso quite manipulated,” she wrote on Instagram Monday night. “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. So I took it upon myself to release the real pic (right side) and I love it.” The teenager, who’s already a one-name wonder, requested that the publication pull the image down off of their social media channels and website (they obliged).

An image from Zendaya’s photoshoot for Modeliste magazine. Photo: Facebook

“We understand that re-touching of photos is a sensitive subject not only in the fashion industry but across all media,” Modeliste magazine shared on Facebook alongside an image of Zendaya on location in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. “Upon reviewing edited images in comparison with the originals, Modeliste Editor-in-Chief, Amy McCabe jointly with Zendaya and her parents made the immediate decision to pull the issue and are working with Zendaya at her request to publish the complete un-edited and authentic images.” The post added that the full set of unretouched images will be released on Wednesday and that they “stand to represent and advocate a message of positive body image, self love, and embracing all aspects of individuality, natural beauty and the empowerment of women.”

Within 12 hours, Zendaya’s post racked up more than half a million likes and received nearly 13,000 comments. Those who took the time to sound off mostly noted that they preferred the natural image to the retouched version. Shonda Rhimes even joined in on the conversation, simply adding “Yes!” to Zendaya’s tweet. (Grey’s Anatomy actress Ellen Pompeo did the same, adding “Keeping it really real…adore you.”)

Zendaya, who schools ignoramuses on wigs and weaves and doesn’t follow trends (she sets them), called out Giuliana Rancic earlier this year when the Fashion Police host said the young star’s dreadlocks smelled like “weed and patchouli.” She also shares makeup-free selfies, showing off her acne on her social media channels in an effort to break down the perfectionism perpetuated by media outlets like Modeliste. Recently, she was asked by a paparazzi at Paris Fashion Week to give advice to young girls “who think they’re ugly and stuff,” and she responded, "Nobody’s ugly, that doesn’t exist. I say, take the time to get to know who you are, take the time to love yourself and everything will be alright.”

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