Renowned fashion publication Vogue magazine has come under fire after it tweeted photographs of US vice president-elect Kamala Harris, its February cover star.
The publication has been accused of “whitewashing” Ms Harris in the images and drawn further criticism for the casual nature of its cover photo, which according to Ms Harris' team was not the one that the two sides had agreed upon.
The cover photo, a full-length shot in front of a glossy pink silk drape, features the first woman elected vice-president in more casual attire and wearing Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers, which she sometimes wore on the campaign trail.
Ms Harris' new role also makes her the first person of colour in the vice-presidential seat - her father being Jamaican-American and her mother Indian.
The casual image was used instead of the powder blue power suit Harris wore for her cover shoot in front of a gold backdrop, the team revealed.
One user called it a “washed out mess of a cover”, while others criticised Vogue’s editor-in-chief.
“What a mess up,” wrote New York Times contributor Wajahat Ali.
“Anna Wintour must really not have Black friends and colleagues. I’ll shoot shots of VP Kamala Harris for free using my Samsung and I’m 100% confident it’ll turn out better than this Vogue cover.”
It was just last year that Ms Wintour had apologised to members of staff for “mistakes” in publishing photographs and articles seen as insensitive to minorities.
“Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate or give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers, and other creators,” Wintour wrote.
“We have made mistakes too, publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant. I want to take full responsibility for those mistakes.”
Vogue has denied lightening Ms Harris' skin after the shoot but it does not seem to go over well with viewers.
“The pic itself isn’t terrible as a pic. It’s just far, far below the standards of Vogue. They didn’t put thought into it. Like homework finished the morning it’s due,” the activist Charlotte Clymer tweeted.
Ms Harris' team was unaware that the cover photo had been switched until images leaked late on Saturday, according to a person involved in the negotiations over how Ms Harris would be featured on the cover.
The more casual image of the vice president-elect was to be featured inside the magazine, it was revealed.
Ms Harris is set to be sworn in as vice-president on January 20.