A 16-year-old New Zealand model has been pictured topless in fashion magazine Russh Australia - prompting a "please explain" call from her agent here.
The Australian magazine is being investigated for pictures featuring Auckland model Zippora Seven and 16-year-old male model Levi Clarke.
One image shows the pairin a bubble bath, with Zippora topless and Levi's eyes closed, as if he has passed out. Four bottles of champagne are visible.
The Australian Classifications Act prohibits the depiction of nudity and sexual activity of minors under 18, and a spokesman for the Australian Classification Board said: "I can advise that the board has contacted the publisher of Russh Australia."
Zippora's Australian agent Priscilla Leighton-Clark yesterday admitted the shoot had gone too far.
"It's wrong that our girl has appeared in our magazine exposing her breasts when she is so young," she told the Sunday Telegraph in Sydney.
However, Russh editor Natalie Shukur defended the shoot, claiming it was a homage to supermodel Kate Moss and her one-time boyfriend, actor Johnny Depp.
"We believe Russh readers get it in this narrative shoot."
Zippora's New Zealand agency Red Eleven said it had no involvement with the photo shoot.
Director Mandy Jacobsen told the Herald Red Eleven was "shocked" and "disappointed in the pictures", shot about a month ago.
She said the agency would be talking with Ms Leighton-Clark this week, and wanted an explanation.
There is an unwritten law in New Zealand preventing the use of under-18s in nude photo shoots, Ms Jacobsen said.
"We have to be very careful about these girls on shoots, and what the story's about."
Ms Jacobsen said Zippora was "a lot more mature than her age" and "would not have had a problem" with going topless.
Zippora is currently on a two-month modelling contract in Japan. Her mother - World of Wearable Arts Award winner Ursula Dixon - is in Egypt.
Zippora's brother, Jasper, 19, is also a model. He is on assignment in Milan.
New Zealand magazine Pavement got itself in hot water in 2006 after featuring shots of a semi-naked girl sprawling among toys, and pre-teens posing provocatively in its "Lost Youth - the 13th birthday special teen issue".
