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No-Photoshop Picture of Cindy Crawford for Marie Claire Goes Viral

Leaked photo reopens the debate on the need to be more truthful in media representations of beauty, age

Feb 17, 2015 13:57 GMT  ·  By
Cindy Crawford strikes a fierce pose for Marie Claire Mexico
   Cindy Crawford strikes a fierce pose for Marie Claire Mexico

Cindy Crawford is one of the most famous and beautiful models in the world, and proof of that is in the fact that, at 49, she still works regularly. In an industry in which 30 often equals “old,” this is no small accomplishment.

Over the weekend, a photo of Cindy in her underwear, with exactly zero Photoshop on it, emerged online, with an anchor from ITV claiming that it would be included in an upcoming spread in Marie Claire, one that would set out to do the unthinkable in featuring the first unretouched fashion spread in years.

Photo goes viral, reopens the debate

You can see the photo, along with the original comment from anchor Charlene White, in the tweet below. At the time she posted it, she believed she’d gotten her hand on a leak from an upcoming Marie Claire spread, one that would apparently take a stand for “real” beauty and thus include only unretouched imagines.

Such a thing would have been amazing - and groundbreaking as well - but it’s not happening.

However, before the magazine got to issue a denial, the photo went viral, prompting a very heated and much-needed discussion on media representations of beauty and what White herself called the tyranny of Photoshop.

Most people were shocked, in the most pleasant way, that Crawford would have the “courage” to pose this way, while others focused on the more important aspect of the fact that here was a woman who, at 49, looked gorgeous and wanted the world to see her as she was, no Photoshop or other gimmicks involved.

Women in general responded the warmest, saying this was the kind of image they could feel they related the most, because, as amazing as Cindy’s body was, it still was, at the end of the day, the body of a 49-year-old.

A Photoshopped version of the same would have had a completely smooth abdomen, smoother thighs and perfect, doll-like skin. Even though this is the kind of body that women are told they should aspire to, and that this is the look they’re always striving to attain, they don’t always feel like what is asked of them is right.

Marie Claire sets the record straight

The magazine has issued a statement on the photo after it went viral, explaining that it’s not part of an upcoming spread. In fact, the photo is old, having been taken in 2013 by John Russo for Marie Claire Mexico and Latin America.

The photo is also a leak, which means it was never meant for the public. Had it ever been printed, it would have most likely been Photoshopped massively, until it was deemed “perfect” for publication.

Still, the magazine welcomes the discussion on Cindy’s unretouched figure, which it describes as “a body that defies expectations - it is real, it is honest, and it is gorgeous,” and calls the photo an “enlightenment” because it brings to attention that real beauty is confidence, real beauty is health and real beauty is truth.

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis agrees.