Following the social media controversy surrounding Cleo magazine's Photoshopping policy, the title has moved to remind Facebook naysayers it features unaltered images of "real girls" in every issue.
Just this week, Cleo was hit with several angry consumer comments over its resistance to stopping the use of digitally-altered images of models, as requested by a petition on Change.org led by Melbourne student Jessica Barlow.
The magazine has since responded to its 12,208 Facebook fans with the following statement: "Regular readers of the magazine will know that along with celebrity stories, fashion, health and career advice, we feature real girls in every issue, as they are (without altering the images) in line with our Photoshop guidelines."
Cleo supported its statement with a link to its retouching policy, which claims to not alter the body shape of anyone photographed for its pages, or airbrush natural lines, freckles or any permanent features unless specifically requested by the person in the photo.
However, consumers have used the magazine's statement to further deplore its image policy, creating a stream of dozens of comments.
Barlow herself responded to Cleo's statement on Facebook, and despite thanking the magazine for responding to the issue, argued it could "do better" by clearly labelling all digitally-altered images and feature models and girls of all sizes, ethnicities and abilities.
She said: "This is no longer just my petition, but a movement of young women (and their parents, teachers etc) who are asking for something different. Together we are asking for you to take hold of the responsibility that comes with being a magazine that so deeply impacts our lives, and to work to do better."
The magazine's use of pre-Photoshopped images from international picture agencies has been another topic of consumer contest. Cleo had earlier in the week attributed this as one of the reasons why it was unrealistic to stop using digitally-altered images.
One user wrote: "Cleo, ultimately, you are the photographer's customer. If they cannot deliver the product required by your magazine then perhaps it is time to source them from somewhere else? It is good to see that you are addressing this issue but perhaps rather than saying there is nothing you can do, you could take a stand, like your readers."
Another added: "You'd be helping out local Australian photographers/photo agencies/models. Besides your female readers feeling more confident in their bodies and seeing the variety of the human form, your male readers (there are some out there!) actually like seeing real women too!"
Barlow argued in her petition, which now has over 13,328 supporters, that the use of such images was responsible for concerns young women feel regarding their weight, appearence and self-esteem, labelling them a potential cause of eating disorders, dieting and depression.
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