Magazine uses photoshop to turn models into amputees

Vogue Brazil has been heavily criticised for Photoshopping local celebrities to make them look like amputees.

Instead of using Paralympic athletes, the fashion magazine used able-bodied Brazilians and made them look like they were missing limbs.

The photoshoot was to accompany an article on the Paralympic Games which begin on September 7.

The fashion bible, published in 23 countries, teamed up with famous Brazilians Cleo Pires and Paulo Vilhena in a campaign called ‘‘We Are All Special Olympics.’’

The controversial photo is edited to include Brazilian table tennis player Bruninha Alexandre, who had her right arm amputated as a baby, and volleyball player Renato Leite, who has a prosthetic leg, The New York Post reported.

However, not everyone is happy with the campaign which Vogue says will promote the Games, with criticism flowing freely on social media.

‘‘How frivolous can #VogueBrazil be, digitally altering models to look like #paralympians ?’’ one Twitter user asked.

‘‘So @VogueBRoficial have Photoshopped able-bodied models to be disabled (if you use that word) instead of using actual #Paralympians?!’’ another vented.

Despite the outrage, athlete Alexandre is proud of the image and posted a photo with the models on Friday.

‘‘Folks, I have been clear that I am so proud to be part of this campaign . . . ’’ she said.

‘‘Our Paralympics ambassadors ,Cleo Pires and Paulo Vilhena, helped to intensify and spread the campaign aiming to increase awareness of the Paralympic Movement . . . ‘‘ The art director of the Brazilian edition says he is happy with the photo.

‘‘Participating in the campaign was an honour for me. The atmosphere in the studio was total happiness and pride,’’ Clayton Carneiro said to Vogue.