Brooke Hogan Takes a Stand Against Airbrushing

Virtually all celebrities, no matter how beautiful, skinny, or confident -- from Kelly Clarkson to Victoria Beckham -- have their photos retouched. And all the airbrushed, digitally altered images of these stars can leave us scratching our heads wondering if what we're seeing are even the real celebrity bodies.

Brooke Hogan, star of the VH1 reality series "Brooke Knows Best," was recently photographed in a number of unflattering bikini-clad poses while on vacation. "They took the photos from a bad angle, and I was hunched over," Brooke told Life & Style. While the 21-year-old may feel those shots weren't an accurate representation of her firm figure, she said she's proud of her 5-foot-11 body, and has come to grips with the fact that she'll never be a size two -- a bold statement coming from Hollywood.

To prove her body confidence, Brooke is showing off her healthy figure in the new issue of Life & Style (right). She told the magazine, "Whoever invented Photoshop was a genius, but it sets a bad example for what 'healthy' is" and decided earlier this month that she would only participate in the magazine's bikini shoot if the photos wouldn't be retouched or altered in any way.

"Photoshopping these already beautiful and thin models and actresses is outrageous," said registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, Katherine Tallmadge. "It makes even fit women feel terrible, since it sets up unrealistic expectations about what beauty is. Plus, if mature women feel uncomfortable by it, imagine what effect is has on young women and teens!"

Brooke is no stranger to being weight-conscious. Since her debut on her father's reality series "Hogan Knows Best" at 17, she's concentrated on cutting carbs and firming up. According to Project Weight Loss, in 2005 Brooke was working out two times a day and sticking to the Atkins diet. And during an interview last year with OK! magazine she said: "Thick or not, I'm firm. I don't have cellulite. I'm happy with how I am. People should know, I'm only doing the diet for the entertainment business. It's not really what you're supposed to look like in real life."

"I think it's wonderful Brooke [Hogan] took a stand," said Tallmadge. "More and more models and celebrities should be doing it. For women, I think it would be nice to see that little bit that hangs out when a tank top strap is too tight, and all of those little body issues that are weird and normal as opposed to this impossibly thin standard. Of course I'm not for obesity, but I think fit women need a thin layer of fat above the muscle in order to be healthy, fertile, touchable and sensuous."

Despite her bold move in front of the cameras, Brooke told Celebrity Diet Doctor that she's still gunning to lose another 10 pounds. She also told the site that she eats "very healthy" and "super clean, all organic," which includes small meals and snacks throughout the day munching on tuna with low-fat mayo, grapes, walnuts, salad, fruit and almonds. To drop the few extra pounds, she cuts out bread and refined sugar.

What's your take on retouching? Kelly Clarkson seems to embrace it with open arms.