Lena Dunham Calls Out the Spanish Magazine That Photoshopped Her for Its Cover
You'd think that in the aftermath of Zendaya brilliantly calling out a magazine for slimming down her hips and thighs, people would be more careful, once and for all. But no.
On Monday, Girls actress and creator Lena Dunham took to Instagram to tell her fans that the person who graces the latest cover of Tentaciones, a Spanish magazine, may look like her, but it really isn't.
"I am genuinely honored to be on your cover and so happy you licensed a pic by Ruven Afanador, who always makes me feel gorgeous," Dunham, 29, wrote.
"BUT this is NOT what my body has ever looked like or will ever look like — the magazine has done more than the average photoshop," she continued. "So if you're into what I do, why not be honest with your readers?"
Given Dunham's track record of being outspoken, that sort of response should have been expected. She's never been one to be ashamed, apologetic or even private about her body, not to mention the rest of her life.
Since the premiere of Girls in 2012, Dunham's been a vocal advocate for loving your body as it is and publicly quit Twitter for a period because of the body-shaming messages she was receiving. Given how hard she's worked to send a positive message about embracing one's figure, it's no surprise she's not cool with this false representation.
"I really feel good with my size now," Dunham told People in 2014. "I know when I say that people are like, 'mm hmm,' but I just do! It used to be when I went into a room with all thin women I felt like, what's wrong with me? Now I just feel special."
A magazine slimming her down (without permission) is essentially sending the opposite message, trying to get Dunham's body to conform to a Hollywood stereotype that she proudly admits she does not have.
Other female stars feel similarly, from OG bullshit-caller Kate Winslet to the aforementioned Zendaya, who took to Instagram back in October 2015 to publicly denounce a magazine's airbrushing efforts.
"These are things that make women self-conscious, that create the unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have," the singer wrote. "Anyone who knows who I am knows I stand for honest and pure self love."
Luckily, many fans seem to be on the same page in demanding real images. Most recently, people were shocked to find out that a supermodel (by the name of Gigi Hadid, no less) had been photo-edited, with Vogue China removing the moles and freckles from her abdomen.
Overzealous magazine airbrushing isn't a thing of the past, but thankfully, stars now have outlets like social media to set the record straight on what's real and what's bogus.
