Fans claim the tennis star's image has been Photoshopped. Photo / People magazine
Fans claim the tennis star's image has been Photoshopped. Photo / People magazine
She may be reveling in the glory of being named one of People magazine's most beautiful women in the world, but her fans are not impressed by her photo shoot in the magazine's latest issue, claiming her picture has been heavily edited.
The 34-year-old tennis star shared a shot from the May 2 issue with her 3 million Instragram followers. Alongside the sultry black and white image where she poses in a skimpy swimsuit, she wrote: "@people mag most beautiful 2016" and included a fist-pump emoji.
But just two hours after Williams posted the image, she was bombarded by almost 600 comments from fans suggesting her image has been doctored.
One follower, Miss Moteni, pointed out how the bar in the background appears to narrow at the point where it meets William's waist. "I love her but the bar behind her waist is so warped. Disappointing."
Other's lamented the fact that Williams, who was last year named Sports Illustrated's sportsperson of the year, didn't need to have her image manipulated.
"You look beautiful the way you. yes this is a great picture but I don't feel this is the best representation of your actually body type. and trust I love your body the way God intended for it to (sic.)" wrote Mallory Mazurek.
Oblambo wrote: "The one natural beauty who doesn't need photoshop is the one they give it too smh [shaking my head],"
William's image appears in the May 2 issue of People magazine. Photo / People
Others labelled the suggested Photoshop work as "disrespectful" and "ridiculous".
However, not everyone was unimpressed by the image, which scored Williams 37,000 likes.
One fan gushed: "Gorgeous," while another wrote: "Finally someone I can relate to and actually agree with the title. Gorgeooooous darling, followed by a thumbs-up emoji."
Another Instagrammer commented that the image could be untouched. "It might not be photoshop you guys :) some people's bodies are naturally that curvy!"
This isn't the first time the sporting champ has found herself in the middle of image manipulation controversy.
Her cover shot for Sports Illustrated in December 2015 was criticised over the size of her thighs, with critics accusing picture editors of using Photoshop to slim William's legs.
Williams cover image for Sports Illustrated was also called out for being manipulated. Photo / Sports Illustrated
One Twitter user commented: "The photoshopped the sh** out of #SerenaWilliams' thighs for that #SportsIllustrated cover. Geez [sic]."
Another added "Photoshopped #SerenaWilliams until she looked slim. Beautiful picture but she better with her normal body [sic]".
Williams also posted her cover shot to Instagram when it hit newsstands last year. She wrote: "This year was spectacular for me. For Sports Illustrated to recognize my hard work, my dedication, and my sheer determination gives me hope to continue on and do better."
Currently ranked number one in her field, Williams is no stranger to public scrutiny and body shaming.
Earlier this year Harry Potter author JK Rowling came to her defence when a troll attributed her tennis success to being "built like a man".
Rowling posted two images of Williams in a fitted red dress accompanied by the comment: "Yeah, my husband looks just like this in a dress. You're an idiot."
People magazine is yet to comment on the image manipulation claims.
