The use of Photoshop is one the most controversial aspects of fashion photography. Fashion magazines have long been using software to slim, smooth and tone their models. However, the tool is not usually used by models themselves, with the exception of Miranda Kerr, or so it initially seemed.

Miranda Kerr
Miranda Kerr has apologised for using a manipulated image.

The Australian supermodel posted a photograph on her Instagram account from last year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Kerr did not attend the event this year, which was held on Wednesday (13th November) in New York. She posted the photograph wishing all her fellow models luck at the event. The original caption read "Sending love and best wishes to the #vsangels from Japan."

However it was not the caption or Kerr's fellow models in the photograph - Doutzen Kroes and Alessandra Ambrosio- which gained the attention of Kerr's 2.6 million followers. A number of Instagram users commented on how Kerr looked even slimmer than she usually does. The shot shows the three Victoria's Secret Angels, what spokeswomen for the company are called, clad in bra and knickers and adorned with stage props including a carnival headdress.

A large number of her followers were up in arms as they, quite rightly, pointed out Kerr does not need the aid of Photoshop in order to look beautiful. This is a major issue with using the software as it presents readers of fashion magazines with an unnatural ideal. Thousands of original images are available online attached to their post-Photoshop counterpart. The differences between the images are dramatic and what aspects photo editors consider to be 'flaws' is extremely concerning.

The original image as Kerr reposted yesterday (15th November):

However, Kerr's use of the image appears to be a genuine mistake as she apologised to fans and posted the original photograph. She claimed to have found the photograph online and simply uploaded it without realising it had been doctored. She added the following caption to the re-posted image:

"Hi guys, here is the original VS image! When I re-posted the photo this week to support the girls I screen grabbed it off the internet when I was working in Japan. I had no idea it was photoshopped. All good intentions- sorry for the confusion and congratulations to the girls for such a great show!"

The supermodel has made headlines recently as she and her husband of three years, Orlando Bloom, decided to separate and announced their decision last month. Their split has been incredibly amicable with the two continuing to act as a family along with their two-year-old son, Flynn.

Orlando Bloom
Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom have recently split up.