Model Condemns Photoshopped Bikini Picture That Made Her Look 4 Sizes Smaller

Meaghan Kausman recently did an underwater bikini shoot and was shocked when the bikini company photoshopped her several sizes smaller before posting it.

Meaghan, whose dad happens to be a body-image expert, did not like this at all. The Australian model had suffered eating disorders in the past, and took to her Instagram to call out the Bikini company. She shared two photos from the shoot, one prior to editing and one from after.

Needless to say, the two were quite different. Not only was her stomach slimmed down, but the rest of her body appears to be retouched, too. Kausman condemned the obvious editing, saying;

My body is a size 8, not a size 4. That’s my body! I refuse to stand by and allow ANY company or person to perpetuate the belief that “thinner is better”.

Meaghan's full post;

Making art is my passion. Creating beautiful photos and meeting inspiring people has really given me a new lease on life. I recently did a photoshoot wearing Fella Swim, with an extremely passionate and talented underwater photographer, Pip, @seagypsea_photography Her photos are magical; they capture women in water and celebrate their beauty.

This morning I was extremely shocked to see that Fella Swim had uploaded a photoshopped version of Pip’s original photo to their Instagram page. They had drastically altered my body, thinning out my stomach and thighs in an attempt to box me in to the cultural ideal of beauty. Above is their version, below is the real version.

My body is a size 8, not a size 4. That’s my body! I refuse to stand by and allow ANY company or person to perpetuate the belief that “thinner is better”. All women are beautiful, and we come in different shapes and sizes! This industry is crazy!!!! It is NOT OKAY to alter a woman’s body to make it look thinner. EVER!

The photographer Pip Summerville, also lends her voice to the conversation;

Is what your seeing really real??? I was lucky enough to work with @meagsk for a personal underwater portrait session a few weeks ago. After posting one of the images from the session to social media, a swim wear company took the image and heavily photo-shopped it without permission of either myself or Meaghan. The result of the drastically edited image is seen on @meagsk instagram.

As a photographer, I understand the importance of editing to bring out the best in an image. I am the first to admit that Photoshop allows creativity to be showcased to a higher level. The use of Photoshop to alter body image in order to portray a stereotype is all to common in this industry.

This particular Photoshop of the image is a breach of copyright as there was no permission sought before manipulating it for their advertising means. These situations are not of an isolated occurrence in the industry, and are all to common, highlighting the unrealistic expectations of beauty and body image.

Courageously, Meaghan voiced her opinion and with the help of Dr Rick Kausman her situation is being heard. Meaghan, Dr Rick Kausman and Myself have been invited to discuss our experience and the greater issues associated with such situations from channel 9's " the today show "