Stars of the US TV show Riverdale Camila Mendes and Lili Reinhart called out Cosmopolitan Philippines this morning for photoshopping their bodies in the magazine’s latest issue.
Through her Instagram Story, Reinhart, who stars as Betty Cooper in the adaptation of the Archie comics, highlighted exactly how the photos were altered to make them look thinner.
“Today is International Women’s Day. Over the last year, we’ve seen an unprecedented movement for women’s rights, and one thing is clear: our time is now. We are phenomenal, and we will make the world a better place for all women,” Reinhart said. “But we still have a long way to go. Our fight is not over.”
She then posted the original photo taken by the US edition of Cosmopolitan and compared it to the same photo shared by Cosmopolitan Philippines, its local edition. Reinhart pointed out how her waist was visibly changed to look smaller.
And it’s not just Reinhart who was photoshopped. A photo of her co-star Mendes, who plays Veronica Lodge in the same TV show, was also altered.
“Camila and I have worked incredibly hard to feel confident and comfortable in the bodies that we have. It’s an everyday battle, sometimes. And to see our bodies become so distorted in an editing process is a perfect example of the obstacles we have yet to overcome,” Reinhart said.
“That’s why I’m calling out @cosmopolitan_philippines. It’s sad that you felt our bodies needed to be slimmed down. But Camila and I are fucking beautiful. As is. And you can’t ‘fix’ us.”
Mendes also sounded off on the issue in her Instagram Story.
“Happy international women’s day! @lilireinhart and I feel disrespected & disturbed by the sight of our photoshopped bodies in @cosmopolitan_philippines,” she said. “We want their readers to know that those bodies are not ours; they have been distorted from their natural beauty.”
Coconuts Manila has reached out to Cosmopolitan Philippines but has not yet heard back. They have yet to make a public statement on the issue.
CORRECTION: This article previously stated that the photos appear on the cover of Cosmopolitan Philippines. They can actually be found inside the magazine and on their social media posts.
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