Simpson Cover, HuffPo

Marie Claire upholds their tag line, “More Than A Pretty Face,” by promoting Jessica Simpson’s work with Operation Smile and featuring “The Real Jessica,” without makeup or photo retouching on their May 2010 cover.

“I don’t have anything to prove anymore,” said Jessica Simpson in the cover feature. “What other people think of me is not my business.”

Not only is the pop star over the tabloids and gossip, Ms. Simpson is in the business of celebrating inner beauty and changing young people’s lives.  As an International Youth Ambassador for Operation Smile — an organization dedicated to providing surgeries to children with facial deformities in third world countries — she advocates for the charity and increases awareness about healing cleft lip and cleft palate.

Simpson has supported the organization since 2003 and is now encouraging young people to get involved.  Operation Smile collaborated with Simpson and VH1 for her show The Price of Beauty and a new initiative called, “A Beautiful Me.” According to the charity, “This movement encourages young people to take a personal oath to identify their inner beauty and unique qualities, recognize their strengths and realize that they can make a difference.”

On the cover of Marie Claire, Jessica Simpson is embodying her commitment to the cause by showcasing her natural looks without enhancement.  Though there are many skeptics who say she is wearing mascara, concealer and maybe a little blush, the photo doesn’t look retouched to me.

How much makeup is Jessica Simpson actually wearing in the photo? Anyone’s guess is as good as mine, but the fact that the magazine says she’s not (and French Marie Claire did a no-retouch issue last month) is a powerful statement about the damaging effects to the confidence and self-image of women, and the need for realistic portrayals of women in magazines.

The more real photos we see of beautiful women on the inside and out — the less we’ll see of fake, plastic-looking cover girls made glamorous with cosmetics and PhotoShop.

So, suffice it to say, I believe the Simpson cover photo is authentic. Maybe that’s naive, but there must be integrity on the part of the magazine editors and Simpson, especially since this is such a vital message to readers. And, given the context of Simpson’s new show that takes a look at beauty issues around the globe, I should hope that this is “real” — otherwise, what’s the point?