The Age of Photoshop

        Jinkee Pacquiao and Charice greeted the new year (and us) with their faces on the covers of Preview and Mega magazine respectively. So what’s the issue? People are talking about it, and are quick to make pronouncements that their faces, rather pictures, were photoshopped. This reminds me of the hullabaloo that surrounded Sharon Cuneta’s Marie France billboards, courtesy of Hayden Kho (allegedly). Whose model’s face, or body for that matter, on a magazine cover, or billboard, has not been photoshopped anyway? Why are critics very particular with Jinkee and Charice? Eugene Domingo also appeared on a fashion magazine (Sense and Style) but it did not create any fuss. So fortunately for her, she was spared from potshots about being photoshopped – face and body. 

        Perhaps, people cannot digest the fact the wife of a boxer and a diminutive international singer, who are not famous in the looks department landed on the covers of fashion bibles. They may not be that beautiful and lacking in supermodel appeal, but they have aces up their sleeves. Jinkee has a boxing heavyweight and congressman for a husband (not to mention her army of Hermes bags ready to defend her anytime). Charice has a very powerful voice that can match, if not surpass, those of famous international singers. She is also the ambassadress of David Foster songs and has sung with international artists from A to Z. In other words, their immense influence and talent respectively, landed them on fashion magazine covers.

  

        So what is the fuss about the magazine covers? The ruckus is that many are envious of the two girls. Not everybody gets to be featured in a fashion magazine. Lesson learned: anybody can become beautiful swans, naturally or synthetically. I think Mommy Dionisia is gearing herself up for a Vogue cover. Watch out for it!

        On a personal note, I have no qualms whatsoever with Photoshop, most especially if the purpose of its use is to highlight and enhance. But if used to distort and deceive, then it’s a NO.