Kelly  Clarkson

The American magazine Self has found itself in the middle of a controversy about the extent of digital photo manipulation it used in its recent cover featuring American Idol Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson, who is admittedly not “model thin” underwent the digital equivalent of major plastic surgery to appear on the cover of the September issue of Self.

In an ironic twist, the  magazine features an interview with Clarkson in which she acknowledges that she’s curvier than than a lot of stars, and she’s perfectly OK with it. She told Self, “I’ll be different sizes all the time. When people talk about my weight, I’m like, ‘You seem to have a problem with it; I don’t. I’m fine!’ I’ve never felt uncomfortable on the red carpet or anything.”

Meanwhile the blogosphere is crackling with criticism of the extent that magazines go to for the sake of having the “perfect” cover. And apparently it isn’t just magazine editors who are in on the digital makeovers. A recent series of photo ads for London Fog featuring Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen managed to edit away not just the odd line or blemish, but underwear and Bundchen’s pregnant midsection.