Kamala Harris' team was blindsided by 'lazy, whitewashed' Vogue cover

Critics slammed the Vogue cover for everything from 'washed -out' lighting to the 'terrible' background. Photos / AP

US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris just landed the cover of the February issue of Vogue magazine, but her team says there's a problem: the shot of the country's soon-to-be second-in-command leader isn't what both sides had agreed upon.

Instead of the powder blue power suit Harris wore for her cover shoot, the first African-American woman elected as vice-president is instead seen in more casual attire and wearing Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers, which she sometimes wore on the campaign trail.

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 Harris would be featured on the cover. Harris' office declined to comment and the person spoke on Sunday on condition of anonymity.

In a statement, Vogue said it went with the more informal image of Harris for the cover because the photo captured her "authentic, approachable nature, which we feel is one of the hallmarks of the Biden-Harris administration".

But the magazine said it released both images as digital magazine covers to "respond to the seriousness of this moment in history, and the role she has to play leading our country forward".

Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian descent, posed in the light blue suit in front of a gold backdrop for the magazine's cover. She also posed, more casually dressed in slacks, a blazer and sneakers in front of a pink and green background, for photos that were planned for inside the magazine, the person said. Pink and green are the colours of Harris' college sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.

A bit disappointed about Kamala's cover this pics look like outtakes, why? Why put the printed cover of her wearing converse? Yes to be more approachable, honestly this is a big mistake she the 1st VP in the US history should be portrayed powerful not approachable #KamalaHarris https://t.co/vkwUEFLeNs

— Marie 🌊 ⛄❄☃️❄ (@aGirlyLadybug) January 11, 2021

Vogue has released both images online, but the photo of a sneaker-clad Harris is the one that will grace the cover of the fashion bible's print edition.

The person with knowledge of the negotiations said Harris' team has expressed to Vogue its disappointment over the magazine's decision.

The cover also generated outrage on social media as posters expressed disappointment in how the magazine decided to present the nation's first female vice-president on its cover.

Harris is set to be sworn in as vice-president on January 20.