UK Bans Twiggy's Photoshopped Olay Ads

U.K's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has finally banned Twiggy ads for Olay, following hundreds of complains from concerned groups who claimed that the images of the wrinkle-free model is socially irresponsible and could have a negative impact on people's perceptions of their own body image.


Beauty company Olay debuted its Definity eye illuminator campaign last summer, featuring then 59 year-old Twiggy. Not to mention that the airbrushing has definitely made the old model's face look younger-smoother-firmer, her eyes were also bright and youthful without the evident of many crows feet.

Below Twiggy's photoshopped face was the line "Olay is my secret to brighter-looking eyes."

Because the anti-aging cream has older women as its target market, some people were disturbed including British lawmakers who called for the banning of the digitally altered advertisements since August.

Olay has admitted to "minor retouching" around Twiggy's eyelid area but the ads made it look like the result of the model's constant wiping of the eye cream.

The ASA banned the complete set of Twiggy's Olay ads yesterday, ruling that the post-production retouching could give consumers a "misleading impression of the effect the product could achieve."

Ultra-Thin Model Of Ralph Lauren Ad Sparks Uproar

Here's the latest image to spark uproar in the old brewing debate of using digitally altered photographs of models in advertising and fashion magazines:

a Ralph Lauren advertisement featuring Filippa Hamilton in all her ultra-thin glory.


The photo first appeared on a blog called Photoshop Disasters, with a comment that says, "Dude, her head's bigger than her pelvis." It attracted much publicity after being posted by Boing Boing later on its website.

The Ralph Lauren management was none too pleased over the controversy the posts have sparked so they filed a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaint over the two companies. According to the management, the "use of the image was a copyright infringement that fell outside of the Fair Use laws which allow the media to reproduce creative content for the purposes of commentary and criticism."

As a response, Photoshop Disasters removed the post. But Boing Boing, Canada's Priority Colo, refused to do so. Instead, it posted a warning for Ralph Lauren on its website that says:

"Copyright law doesn't give you the right to threaten your critics for pointing out the problems with your offerings. You should know better. And every time you threaten to sue us over stuff like this, we will:

a) Reproduce the original criticism, making damned sure that all our readers get a good, long look at it, and;

b) Publish your spurious legal threat along with copious mockery, so that it becomes highly ranked in search engines where other people you threaten can find it and take heart; and

c) Offer nourishing soup and sandwiches to your models."

Ralph Lauren's attempt to put a stop to the critics apparently did not help. It only increased the negative attention surrounding the controversial ad.

Actually, the problem is not on the useful digital photo enhancement process. If only Ralph Lauren did not alter the model so thin that her waist appears smaller than her head...

Ugly No More: The Power of Digital Photo Enhancement

Thanks to technology, digital photo enhancement is now available to help the images of models and actors achieved appeal perfection.

With the wide range of beauty enhancement products and services around, every person now has the opportunity to look and feel beautiful. This is especially true for every models and actors who capitalize on their good looks and lovely physique to attract serious modeling projects and land good roles in film. And so models and actors have to make sure that they are beautiful when they presented their photos and portfolios for the admiration or scrutiny of the international audience.

With digital photo enhancement, photos are retouched or airbrushed to eliminate all the unnecessary flaws like wrinkles, freckles, moles, uneven skin tone – all those blemishes that lessen the appeal of the subject and blocks many casting opportunities. It is no wonder that all the published photos and best professional model portfolios are retouched.

Think about it: why would you allow yourself to be overlooked by many casting opportunities just because of a minute flaw on your body that can be eliminated by just a simple retouching?

If you're not beautiful these days, it's already your fault.


Witness how digital photo enhancement works and avail of the Digital Photo Enhancement services today.