Ashley Graham Maxim cover: Fans claim images of model are photoshopped

The 28-year-old is the first curve model to be featured on the cover of the US Maxim in history

Graham’s career has been punctuated by a series of ‘firsts’ and at the beginning of the year she became the first UK size 16 woman to grace the front of Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit edition (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)

A cover image of Ashley Graham has been Photoshopped to make her look slimmer, her fans have claimed.

Graham, a US size 12/UK size 16 model, designer and body positive activist, is the first of her size to be featured on the cover of the US Maxim.

Commenting on the magazine covers the 28-year-old shared on Instagram, one user wrote, “It's a shame they photoshopped her to appear slimmer. They should have left her be. What's the point of featuring a plus-size model on the cover if they're just going to make her look like the generic girls you see on their magazine”.

While another said, “This photo does not show your lusciousness my friend. It's definitely too photoshopped, and not in a good way. You are one of the rare instances where the Before is better than the After”.

Two particular users debated over how much control the model had in the output of her images. While one said, “I don't think she personally has a lot of control over how much or little Photoshop is used for covers, etc. It's the standard for media like this. I'm not trying to argue, because no matter how “large” or small the person featured is, there's always way too much editing. It's not her fault”, another disagreed.

“Celebs can control that,” a different Instagram follower responded. “Their agents also can. And Ashley, in particular, should if she's trying to make a change in the fashion industry and be a role model for girls. She can just put it in her contract. She just had pounds of wobbly bits removed here... that goes against everything that she preaches“.

Graham’s career has been punctuated by a series of ‘firsts’ and at the beginning of the year she became the first UK size 16 woman to grace the front of Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit edition.

The model and body-positive activist spoke out about her personal views on Photoshopping in an interview with Entertainment Tonight yesterday. “I believe in a little bit, but when you're reconstructing my body, when you're reshaping my hips and my thighs and you're taking certain cellulite away — Hello! I talk about it! I got cellulite. It's like, don't do that, because the customer realizes and the girl who follows me realizes it's just overdone,” she said. “There is a tasteful way to do it.”

The Nebraska-born model, who has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Latina, and more, has frequently been vocal about the fact she rejects the “plus-size” label. Graham is also an avid supporter of the Plus is Equal Campaign - the organisation that calls for the size 14-34 women who constitute 67 per cent of the American female population to be properly represented and celebrated in both the media and fashion industry.

Maxim and Ashley Graham did not respond to request for comment.