MANILA, Philippines — Riverdale's female lead stars called out Cosmopolitan Philippines for distorting their bodies in the local magazine's March issue.
Lili Reinhart, known as Betty Cooper in the CW series, posted message on her Instagram stories in commemoration of the International Women's Day.
"Over the last year, we've seen an unprecedented movement for women's rights, and one thing is clear: our time is now. We are phenomenal, and we will make the world a better place for all women," Reinhart said.
Instagram/Lili Reinhart
Instagram/Lili Reinhart
Noting that the "fight is not over", Reinhart posted her photo, as well as those of Camila Mendes (Riverdale's Veronica Lodge), during their February shoot for Cosmopolitan.
Reinhart then posted edited versions of their photos which were edited by Cosmopolitan Philippines.
"That's why I'm calling out [Cosmopolitan Philippines]. 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," Reinhart said.
She added that seeing their bodies distorted in an editing process is an example of the obstacles that women have yet to overcome.
"Camila and I have worked incredibly hard to feel confident and comfortable in the bodies that we have," Reinhart added.
Mendes, meanwhile, said that she felt disrespected and disturbed by the sight of their edited bodies in the Philippine magazine.
"We want their 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," Mendes said in her Instagram stories.
Both Reinhart and Mendes thanked the "original" Cosmopolitan for keeping their waists as is in the international edition of the magazine.
"Also, let it be known that the original spread in [Cosmopolitan] included our natural silhouettes, and we're relieved that they didn't see our waistlines as something that needed tweaking," Mendes said.
"We are fucking powerful, beautiful and strong... we aren't going to hide behind photoshop to conform to beauty standards," Reinhart said.
Cosmopolitan Philippines has taken down the edited photos in their Instagram page.