In order to promote “natural beauty”

Feb 21, 2009 10:41 GMT  ·  By
Sports Illustrated removes race driver Danica Patrick’s tattoo, says it was done to keep her “natural”
   Sports Illustrated removes race driver Danica Patrick’s tattoo, says it was done to keep her “natural”

Race driver and occasional model Danica Patrick is known both for her driving abilities and for her willingness to market her looks. Given this, it’s no wonder that she’s often seen in bathing suits and few clothing items in magazines such as FHM and Sports Illustrated, but it’s only the latter that made the decision to airbrush Danica’s lower back tattoo in the February 2009 issue.

The industry is well aware that Patrick has a rather large tattoo on her lower back, it has been said. Because of this, the question inevitably arises: how come it’s gone in the February issue of the magazine, in which the race driver is seen in a bathing suit on a beach, with her back to the camera? The answer is simple, TMZ has learned. Sports Illustrated has airbrushed it off because it promotes “natural beauty.”

“The Swimsuit Issue emphasizes natural beauty. The freckles are left on and, in this case, the tattoos came off.” a spokesperson for Sports Illustrated tells CNBC. Nevertheless, several media outlets are saying, how does airbrushing a woman equal natural beauty? Tattoo or no tattoo, altering a photo will only make the beauty all that more unnatural, so, if one were to choose the lesser of the two evils, then perhaps the tattoo should have been left on.

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is one of the most popular issues of the magazine. Models such as Bar Rafaeli and Gisele Bundchen are often asked to put on their bathing suits to pose for the spread, much to the delight of sports fans and not only. Of course, landing a contract for the Swimsuit Issue of SI is an equal pleasure and honor for the models in question, coming as a sort of acknowledgement of their value.

Bar Rafaeli is the latest model to stun fans in an amazing photo spread. But that’s not all that Bar does, as the magazine also includes an interview with the bankable model, in which she does her best to send out a positive message to all the women out there. Having a model’s body does not mean starving yourself but keeping to a healthy diet and working out, Bar Rafaeli says.