CULTURE

Lili Reinhart and Camila Mendes Spoke Out About Photoshopped Cosmopolitan Philippines Images

Lili Reinhart does not want images of herself or Camila Mendes retouched.


riverdale
Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet Hennessy

Riverdale star Lili Reinhart is proving that she’s every bit as empowered as her character Betty Cooper, and that she’s not afraid to call out body image malarkey when she sees it. In a series of Instagram Stories posts (which are compiled here), Reinhart posted before-and-after photoshopped images of herself and Riverdale costar Camila Mendes. Reinhart and Mendes both posed for double covers of Cosmopolitan‘s February issue.

But in the Philippines edition of the magazine, it seems, those pictures were digitally altered to create the appearance of slimmer waists on both women. In a message to Cosmo Philippines on her Instagram Stories, Reinhart wrote, “It’s sad that you felt our bodies needed to be slimmed down. But Camila and I are fucking beautiful. As is. And you can’t ‘fix’ us.” Amen.

Acknowledging the pressure on women to fit a certain body standard, she continued, “Camila and I have worked incredibly hard to feel confident and comfortable in the bodies that we have. It’s an everyday battle, sometimes. And to see our bodies become so distorted in an editing process is a perfect example of the obstacles we have yet to overcome.” Promising to continue to fight to empower women, Reinhart, who has spoken openly about her struggles with anxiety, posted, “So we cannot stop fighting. Our battle has only just begun. We are fucking powerful, beautiful and strong…we aren’t going to hide behind photoshop to conform to beauty standards.”

(Now, before the Photoshop apologists slither out of the woodwork, can we all just agree that, looking at the pictures, it’s not a case of fixing a flyaway or creating a special image? It’s clearly about slimming these young women’s waists. Not okay.)

On her own Instagram Stories, Mendes, who has spoken out in the past about her struggles with an eating disorder, posted a related message, writing, “happy international women’s day! @lilireinhart and I feel disrespected & disturbed by the sight of our photoshopped bodies in @cosmopolitan_philippines. we want readers to know that those bodies are not ours; they have been distorted from their natural beauty. we prefer to see our bodies the way they actually are. i’m not interested in having a slimmer waist, i’m more than satisfied with the one that i already have. much love & self-respect, camila and lili.”

The posts have been deleted from Cosmopolitan Philippines’ Instagram account, per Refinery29.

Related: Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart Show PDA on Vacation in Hawaii

Can Riverdale‘s Cast Live Up to Gossip Girl‘s Fashion Legacy?

Lili Reinhart attends Build Series to discuss the new teen drama series “Riverdale” at Build Studio on January 26, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)

Gary Gershoff

Madelaine Petsch arrives for the 14th Annual Brass Ring Awards Dinner 2017 SESAC Latina Music Awards at Beverly Hills Hotel on June 7, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic)

Gabriel Olsen

Camila Mendes attends Entertainment Weekly’s Annual Comic-Con Party 2016 at Float at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 23, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic)

Phillip Faraone

Lili Reinhart attends ELLE’s Annual Women In Television Celebration 2017 at Chateau Marmont on January 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for ELLE)

Stefanie Keenan

Madelaine Petsch arrives to the House of CB Flagship Store Launch on June 14, 2016 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

Jesse Grant

Camila Mendes attends the ELLE’s Annual Women In Television Celebration 2017 – Red Carpet at Chateau Marmont on January 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for ELLE)

Jonathan Leibson

Lili Reinhart attends Entertainment Weekly’s Comic-Con Bash held at Float, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 23, 2016 in San Diego, California sponsored by HBO. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly)

Frazer Harrison

Madelaine Petsch attends the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion Los Angeles fashion show at Willow Studios on August 4, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

Michael Tullberg

Camila Mendes arrives at the 2017 PaleyLive LA Spring Season “Riverdale” Screening And Conversation at The Paley Center for Media on April 27, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

Jon Kopaloff

Lili Reinhart attends Marie Claire’s Fresh Faces event at Doheny Room on April 21, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Jason LaVeris

Camila Mendes attends the Entertainment Weekly and PEOPLE Upfronts party presented by Netflix and Terra Chips at Second Floor on May 15, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly and PEOPLE )

Bryan Bedder

Madelaine Petsch attends the 14th Annual Global Green Pre-Oscar Gala at TAO Hollywood on February 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images for Fashion Media)

Allen Berezovsky

Lili Reinhart attends the Teen Choice Awards 2017 at Galen Center on August 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Frazer Harrison

Camila Mendes attends the Vulture Festival at The Standard High Line on May 20, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Vulture Festival)

Andrew Toth

Madelaine Petsch attends the 2017 MTV Movie And TV Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on May 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Alberto E. Rodriguez

Lili Reinhart attends the Vulture Festival at The Standard High Line on May 20, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Vulture Festival)

Andrew Toth

Camila Mendes attends the Teen Choice Awards 2017 at Galen Center on August 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Kevin Mazur

Madelaine Petsch attends the 27th Annual EMA Awards at Barker Hangar on September 23, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

David Livingston
1/18