Ashley Graham has hit back at criticism that her Maxim images were Photoshopped to make her look slimmer.

The US size 12/UK size 16 model and body positive activist is the first of her size to be featured on the cover of the US Maxim.

“I'm beyond proud to be the first curvy woman on the cover of Maxim,” the 28-year-old said a statement. “I was not slimmed down on the cover, and Gilles Bensimon did an amazing job capturing my true figure in all of the photos”.

“This is another major advancement for curvy women, especially those who work in the fashion industry who are working hard to get the recognition they deserve,” she went on to say. “I now encourage more publications and designers to put more diversity on their covers and runways. Let's continue to show that beautiful bodies come in different sizes and they should all be celebrated.”

Fans claimed the Maxim shots had been retouched, commenting on photos on the Nebraska-born model’s Instagram.

One user wrote, “Definitely Photoshopped. That is unfortunate after everything you stand for Ashley.. your curves are gorgeous and Maxim should not have to minimize who you are...shame on them!”

Another added: “It's a shame they Photoshopped her to appear slimmer. They should have left her be. What's the point of featuring a plus-size model on the cover if they're just going to make her look like the generic girls you see on their magazine”.

Graham shared her own personal opinions on the controversial practice of Photoshopping in an interview with Entertainment Weekly on Monday, arguing that it can be done tastefully but only in moderation.

“I believe in a little bit,” the model said. “But when you're reconstructing my body, when you're reshaping my hips and my thighs and you're taking certain cellulite away — Hello! I talk about it! I got cellulite. It's like, don't do that, because the customer realizes and the girl who follows me realizes it's just overdone. There is a tasteful way to do it.”

Fans also argued about how much agency Graham had in the process of controlling how her images were edited once in the post-production stage.

“I don't believe that's Ashley's fault. If it was photoshopped, Maxim made that choice, not her. They don't strike me as the type of magazine that asks the model how they want the final picture to appear,” argued one follower.

But another disagreed, claiming that: “Maxim Photoshops a lot. Why even sign a contract with a magazine notorious for Photoshop? Or some models ask not to be Photoshopped, so the magazine has to agree. I feel like if she was blind-sided by the whole thing".

Having appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Latina, Glamour, and more, Graham’s career in modelling has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Signed to both IMG and Ford Models, Graham became the first UK size 16 woman to grace the front of Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit edition at the beginning of this year.

A keen proponent of the Plus is Equal Campaign, Graham has been outspoken about the fact she rejects the term “plus-size”.