The fashion magazine French Vogue has provoked controversy after painting a white model black for its October issue.

In a shoot styled by its editor-in-chief, Carine Roitfeld, the arms, legs and face of the Dutch model Lara Stone's are painted with dark make-up. In one picture she wears a head scarf, in another, a white dress made from feathers. In later pages, Stone's skin is painted powder-white and appears to be cracking.

The pictures for the model-themed issue, which has British supermodel Kate Moss as its cover star, were taken by the American photographer Steven Klein.

As the pictures surfaced on the internet, bloggers criticised the decision to paint Stone’s skin darker. The fashion magazine Jezebel ran the pictures on its website saying: “What Klein and Roitfeld should know is that painting white people black for the entertainment of other white people is offensive in ways that stand entirely apart from cultural context”

Meanwhile KingKap72 wrote on gossiprocks.com: “If you want to have the look of a black model, then hire one, don't paint one.”

The Vogue issue features homages to famous models of the past 20 years. Kate Moss, Yasmin Le Bon and Eva Longoria all pose for fashion spreads. Roitfeld has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of Anna Wintour to become editor-in-chief of US Vogue.

Last week, an Australian variety show became embroiled in an international racism row after a comedy sketch featured men dressed as the Jackson 5 – with their faces painted black.

The American singer Harry Connick Jr, who was acting as a judge on Hey Hey It’s Saturday said: “If I knew that was going to be part of the show I definitely wouldn't have done it.

“On behalf of my country I know it was done humorously, but we’ve spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons that when we see something like that we take it really to heart."

Roitfeld was not available for comment.

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