Another week, another airbrushing (mis)adventure. "Shooting bikinis is now my life, which as you can imagine is unmitigated hell," says Elizabeth Hurley, who has her own line of swimwear. "But if you signed on for the gig, sadly, you have to go and be jolly in a skimpy white bikini. So now I rely on nice photographers and a certain amount of retouching. I don't mind if you want to make me a bit thinner and a bit younger." In fact, Liz touches up her own snapshots — pictures of her husband, Arun Nayar and son Damian. "Everytime I download my holiday snaps I go over them," she claims. As always, Ms. Hurley is on-trend, because "airbrushing is here to stay," writes Nat Ives for Ad Age. Of Glamour magazine's treatment of America Ferrera, Ives claims "An actually ugly Betty just wouldn't be good for anyone's business, even if it might represent something relatable." But when it comes to magazine covers, is controversy is a good thing?

When Stephanie Faucher, the design director of Computerworld, was questioned by Folio magazine about the infamous Lebron James image on the cover of Vogue, she answered with her own question: "What better way to sell magazines than to run a controversial cover?"

Except that Folio reports, controversial covers don't always increase sales. Though, writes Joanna Pettas, "It's nice to hear people outside the industry talking about magazines. It's a reminder that print, and magazines in general, still have an impact on social culture." Still, one has to wonder: If women are tired of airbrushed celebs and "perfect" models, and a magazine really wanted to court controversy, wouldn't it be a good idea to publish an untouched cover photograph? I'd buy that, in a heartbeat. Would you?

Liz Hurley Admits She Gets Her Bikini Pictures Airbrushed [Mirror]
Liz Hurley Confesses Love Of Airbrushing [Telegraph]
Why Ridiculous Covers Matter [Folio]
Despite Talk of Ethics Codes, Airbrushing Is Here to Stay [AdAge]
Related: Cover Critique: Vogue's Lebron and Gisele
Earlier: America Ferrera's 'Glamour' Treatment, Revisited
Is Vogue's "LeBron Kong" Cover Offensive?
Mainstream Media Outlets Have Picked Up On The Controversial "LeBron Kong" Vogue Cover

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