Kamala Harris’s recent Vogue cover shoot is stirring online debate, with many critics pointing out the heavy airbrushing applied to the Democratic presidential nominee’s image, writes the New York Post.
The renowned fashion magazine, under the Condé Nast umbrella, enlisted acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz to capture images of Harris, who they proclaimed to be “the candidate for our times.” The magazine noted, “Only rarely are individuals summoned for acts of national rescue, but in July, Vice President Kamala Harris received one of those calls.”
Despite the praise, social media users focused on how the 59-year-old Harris appears significantly younger in the photos. One commenter on X remarked, “Holy Photoshop, Batman!” Another user added, “The airbrushing on Kamala’s Vogue cover is HEAVY.”
Amid the buzz, some users shared an image of Harris claiming to represent “what she really looks like,” and many noted the shoot took place on October 7, the anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks that resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis.
Critics, including journalist Julie Kelly, highlighted Harris’s absence on this significant day, suggesting she prioritized the photo shoot over acknowledging the anniversary. Brigitte Gabriel, a conservative commentator, questioned, “What’s worse? A. Vogue featuring Kamala Harris or B. Kamala Harris being MIA on October 7th for a photo shoot?”
Controversy over airbrushing
On that same day, Harris also alleged that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was not taking her calls regarding assistance for Hurricane Milton recovery, which DeSantis denied.
The photo shoot was accompanied by a tribute from Harris and her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, commemorating the victims of the October 7 massacre. Jordan Schachtel pointed out the irony of Harris focusing on the Vogue shoot while engaging in disaster relief discussions.
Harris is featured on the cover of Vogue’s October digital edition, while singer Billie Eilish graces the print version. The shoot includes Harris wearing a Gabriela Hearst suit and her now-famous Tiffany earrings, which sparked speculation during her debate with former President Donald Trump.
This controversy over airbrushing coincides with recent scrutiny faced by CBS for editing a “60 Minutes” interview with Harris, which critics claim was an attempt to present her responses more coherently than in the unedited version.
Former CBS staffers are now calling for an investigation into discrepancies between her appearance on “Face the Nation” and the edited “60 Minutes” segment, while the Trump campaign has demanded an unedited transcript of the interview.