Cosmopolitan Editor Defends Controversial Tess Holliday Cover Decision
As reported on B&T on Friday, the British edition of Cosmopolitan has caused a ruckus after it featured size-24 model Tess Holliday on its latest cover. Check out B&T’s original story here.
When images of the cover and shoot became public, detractors claimed it glorified obesity and promoted ill-health and was the wrong choice for impressionable, young Cosmo readers.
Leading the chorus of criticism was outspoken media commentator Piers Morgan who described Holliday’s appearance in the magazine thus: “As Britain battles an ever-worsening obesity crisis, this is the new cover of Cosmo. Apparently we’re supposed to view it as a ‘huge step forward for body positivity.’ What a load of old baloney. This cover is just as dangerous & misguided as celebrating size zero models.”
But Cosmo editor Farrah Storr has defended the cover and used Morgan’s very own breakfast show Good Morning Britain to do it. You can check out the full segment below:
Storr telling the panel: “This is one cover, which has a larger lady on the cover, in a sea, in a world, in a culture which has venerated – since I can remember – thinness.
“Are people going to look at that and go, ‘Do you know what? I’m going to go and mainline doughnuts, this is what I want for my life’. Of course not. It’s patronising to say. I’m celebrating her. I am not celebrating morbid obesity.
“The reason [Holliday] is on my cover is to show there is a different way to look,” Storr said.
And Morgan’s Good Morning Britain co-host, Susanna Reid, was quick to side with Storr. “We do not all look like Cosmo cover girls. We don’t see it Piers. They are not going to look at Cosmo and try and be 300 pounds,” Reid said.
When Morgan asked wether Holliday presented a healthy image to Cosmo’s young readers, Storr responded: “I am a journalist. I put the information out there. I’m not here to pass judgement on anyone,” she said. “For her, from what I have seen, yes. Could somebody else at 300 pounds be unhealthy? Absolutely.”
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