Magazine under fire for ‘lightening’ Lupita picture

Lupita Nyong'o is set to be Vanity Fair cover girl for its February 2014 issue amid concerns that the magazine altered her complexion. PHOTO/VANITY FAIR

What you need to know:

  • In a tweet, the magazine published an advance photo of Lupita as the covergirl where she appears as flawless as usual but in a much lighter skin sparking concerns that her skin was deliberately lightened in an obvious misrepresentation of how the actress actually looks.

Lupita Nyong'o is set to be featured in February 2014 Vanity Fair in its vanities section issue amid concerns that the magazine altered her complexion.

This comes soon after her dazzling her red carpet appearances where she has consistently made it to the best dressed list as she went on to collect accolade after accolade.

Fashion pundits and bloggers have flagged her as one star to watch for her fashion forward choices as well as her flawless complexion and natural hair.

Previous to her fashion spread in Vanity Fair, she has had a date with the fashion which began with a Miu Miu campaign for its 2014 spring/summer collection.

However, her Vanity Fair cover appearance for the magazine’s February issue is one likely to start many conversations.

In a tweet, the magazine published an advance photo of Lupita where she appears as flawless as usual but in a much lighter skin sparking concerns that her skin was deliberately lightened in an obvious misrepresentation of how the actress actually looks.

The fashion industry has been criticized for featuring few or no black models on the runways as well as overzealously using photoshop to alter the models featured in the magazines to unrealistic proportions and therefore putting immense pressure on women who try to imitate these models leading to low self-esteem and negative body image.

On her part, Lupita says she does not feel pressured to be a fashion icon and will not let fashion get in the way of her acting.

Lupita joins other young Hollywood streets of the moment taking on the many facets of the Miu Miu femininity in a series of portraits. Miu Miu is a high fashion brand of women's clothing and accessories from the Prada fashion house that is headed by Miuccia Prada.

According to the brand’s website www.Miumiu.com, the actresses’ poses are full of personality and convey their diverse points of view and therefore effortlessly translating the new spirit of the Miu Miu woman through their individual style language.

Other stars featured in the campaign are: Elle Fanning (Somewhere, Super 8), Bella Heathcote (Dark Shadows) and Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Macy May Marlene).

See the tweet that started it all.