Vogue magazine and Kendall Jenner are facing backlash and accusations of cultural appropriation after the magazine posted photos on Instagram of the model and reality star wearing a curly hairstyle resembling an "afro."
The photos recognize the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In one photo, Jenner, 22, is pictured with model Imaan Hammam.
Vogue responded to reactions to the photos in a statement obtained by E! News, saying, "The image is meant to be an update of the romantic Edwardian/Gibson Girl hair which suits the period feel of the Brock Collection, and also the big hair of the '60s and the early '70s, that puffed-out, teased-out look of those eras. We apologize if it came across differently than intended, and we certainly did not mean to offend anyone by it."
Some critics of the photos said the job should have been given to a model of color, People magazine noted, adding that the hair of Hammam, who is of Egyptian and Moroccan descent, was straightened in the photo.
This isn't the first time Jenner has faced backlash over racial issues. Last year she appeared in a Pepsi ad that invoked images of Black Lives Matter protests. The ad was pulled and Pepsi apologized.
Vogue also has faced criticism. In May Vogue Italia faced backlash for a cover photo of Gigi Hadid that some said was digitally altered to make the model's skin tone and hair appear several shades darker.
The magazine also was slammed for 2017 photos of Karlie Kloss in a Japanese-inspired spread, People magazine noted.
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