A Photoshopped Kate Middleton in Marie Claire South Africa: Art Or Outrage?

The battle for the biggest cover star is a well-known debate in magazine land. We already know US Vogue has bagged Lady Gaga for their September issue while Katy Perry is striking a pose for US Elle but surely the ultimate coup is Kate Middleton. So three whoops for Marie Claire who have THE DOC HERSELF! gracing their glossy cover.

But wait a photoshopping minute. You beady lot will have noticed the Duchess has never worn ANIMAL PRINT (God forbid) and her hair has NEVER looked so awfully ashen brown. Yep, when the South African version of the mag was faced with the dilemma of snagging Kate for their cover - a feat that even Anna Wintour has tried and failed to do -  they simply plonked K-Middy's face a-top another body. You've gotta admire that creativity, right? Right?

Well, the interweb has gone into meltdown. Just like politics and arts magazine The New Republic, who replaced Kate's dazzling smile with rotting teeth, MC has been accused of courting controversy to sell more issues. GASP. What's more, the cover cheekily suggests that the young royal had struck a pose for the issue, despite insisting that she will not been seen simply as a clothes horse. The headline reads 'Fashion's new royal icon wears SA's best local designs' - oop - but includes an asterisk: 'Of course she doesn't. But she should.' At least they're honest.

Justifying Explaining the cover, Marie Claire Editor Aspasia Karrass told The Telegraph: 'We were so inspired by her fairytale wedding and her life as a modern-day princess, which is why we elected Kate Middleton as our cover star for the August issue. The cover is actually a hyper-real illustration of Kate, meant to be a fan art tribute to fashion's new royal icon.' Hmm, with these hyper-real illustrations, does a celebrity ever have to bother posing for a cover again? 

Inside the issue, five local illustrators dress Kate up in their finest garb (let's be honest: it's unlikely they'll be feeling the joys of the Kate Effect otherwise) illustrated by Catherine Gauche. The multi-print dress on the cover comes courtesy of Clive Rundle, the laser-cut SEE-THROUGH dress she wears for a jolly train ride (as you do) is by Gavin Rajah, the baby doll dress with Peter Pan collar is from Abigail Betz while the leopard print gown is a Marianne Fassler number. As for that ginormous duck, we haven't the foggiest.

So are the mock-ups art or outrage? Do tell us your verdict. On the plus side: the shoot has certainly steamed over those shots of a honeymooning Kate and Wills in their questionable beachwear - so every cloud.