A MAGAZINE editor has justified her decision to airbrush singer Kelly Clarkson on a cover shot.
Lucy Danziger, the editor of women's fitness magazine Self defended her decision to trim down the star, who has battled weight issues ever since she won talent show American Idol in 2002.
Clarkson also appears much heavier onstage and in paparazzi shots than she does on the front of the glossy.
She said: "When people talk about my weight, I'm like, 'You seem to have a problem with it; I don't, I'm fine.'"
But the Self team ignored her comments and airbrushed the singer's photo on the cover, prompting image groups and Clarkson fans to attack the magazine.
Danziger said: "She's our Most Inspiring Woman of 2009. She's been on the cover three times. We love Kelly for the confidence she exudes from within.
"A cover is a poster... you want it to capture the essence of you at your best. So, we're saying to women, 'Look, everyone can love who they are from the inside out and want to achieve their goals.'"