Here we go again...
Ralph Lauren in new photoshop row as SECOND image of model airbrushed to make her head larger than her waist emerges | Mail Online
Second Ralph Lauren model in Photoshop row as she's airbrushed to become impossibly skinny
The first time around, they claimed it was an isolated incident.
Then the second image of a Ralph Lauren model digitally altered to appear impossibly skinny emerged.
The clothing company is once again facing an outraged internet backlash after the image, featuring model Valentina Zelyaeva, appeared in a shop in Sydney, Australia.
Enlarge 
Enlarge 
Retouching row: Left, an image of model Valentina Zelyaeva on the Ralph Lauren website that appears to have been digitally altered; and right, the same image in what appears to be an untouched version, where the model's hips and waist are clearly curvier than in the other version
Enlarge 
Oddly, both the digitally retouched image, above, and what appears to be the unaltered version, below, both appear on the Ralph Lauren Australia website, inviting instant comparisons
Oddly, it also appears in two different versions on the Ralph Lauren website - one which appears to show the model as she actually is, without being significantly digitally altered.
In the retouched version, however, her head appears to be roughly the same size as her waist. Her hand appears almost as wide as her thigh, and her shoulders are significantly wider than her hips.
In the original version, Ms Zelyaeva's pose wrinkles her sweater on her right side. In the digitally altered version some of the wrinkled material has been clumsily airbrushed out - and the wrinkles that are left gave viewers on PhotoshopDisaster.blogspot.com the impression of ribs poking out through the grey sweater.
Ralph Lauren has not yet commented on the image, but a response is expected this afternoon.
The bizarre image sparked outrage on the web, with commentators on PhotoshopDisasters.blogspot.com, where the image was posted, wondering 'why they don't just show their clothes on skeletons... or are those not skinny enough?'
Others were baffled at the idea that the image could be attractive, with some describing it as 'alien', 'astounding', and 'ugly'.
Enlarge 
Enlarge 
'Alien': Left, the full image from the Sydney advert as it appears on the website PhotoshopDisasters.blogspot.com, with the Ralph Lauren logo across the bottom. Right, the Japanese Ralph Lauren advert featuring a digitally altered Filippa Hamilton that caused a row last week
'I'm going to go eat a cookie. That pictures scares me,' said one commentator.
The image is creating controversy just over a week after the row over an image of former Ralph Lauren model Filippa Hamilton that had been digitally retouched to make her head larger than her waist.
Ms Hamilton is said to be friendly with Ms Zelyaeva. The pair have appeared in Ralph Lauren ads together.
Russian-born Ms Zelayaeva, 27, first began modelling for Ralph Lauren in 2005, according to a New York Magazine profile.
She has appeared in British Vogue, among other publications, and in April, 2008 was named the world's thirteenth-highest paid model by Forbes, having made $2.3million in the previous year.
The ad for Blue Label jeans featuring Ms Hamilton was run in a department store in Japan.
Ralph Lauren initially responded by accusing websites running the image - including PhotoshopDisasters.blogspot.com - of copyright infringement for reprinting the advertisement.
Ms Hamilton, left, and Ms Zelyaeva, right, appear together in an ad for Ralph Lauren's Blue Label
But another website running the image, Boing Boing, said it was protected by the ‘fair use’ provision, which allows photos to be reproduced ‘for purposes such as criticism, comment and news reporting’.
As the row over the image grew, Ralph Lauren apologised for its use.
A spokesman for Ralph Lauren said last night: ‘For over 42 years, we have built a brand based on quality and integrity.
‘After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman’s body.
‘We have addressed the problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that the calibre of our artwork represents our brand appropriately.’
Ms Hamilton added to the controversy by claiming she had been fired from the label for being overweight.
The 23-year-old 5ft10in model, a size 8, said she had been told she was too large for their clothes.
Polo Ralph Lauren denied her claims, saying their relationship ended 'as a result of her inability to meet the obligations under her contract'.
'The image in question was mistakenly released and used in a department store in Japan and was not the approved image which ran in the U.S. We take full responsibility,' the statement said.
'This error has absolutely no connection to our relationship with Filippa Hamilton.'
American designer Ralph Lauren’s company Polo Ralph Lauren is one of the biggest retailers in the U.S., with revenues of £2.6billion a year. The designer himself turns 70 this week.
Read more:
Ralph Lauren in new photoshop row as SECOND image of model airbrushed to make her head larger than her waist emerges | Mail Online
Linear Mode
