Demi Lovato Defends Her Sexy ‘Cosmo’ Cover

Demi Lovato appears on the cover of Cosmopolitan’s September issue wearing a butt-grazing dress that shows off more skin than it covers. While her outfit isn’t any more scandalous than the magazine’s usual — just look at Hilary Duff’s cleavage-baring leather jacket in April or Sarah Jessica Parker’s bustier dress in July — it does hit newsstands at a contentious time.

The Washington, D.C.-based group trade group called the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has convinced Rite Aid and Delhaize America — owner of Hannaford stores and Food Lion — to put the “pornographic” publication behind blinders due to its “inappropriate content and covers.” But Lovato takes issue with this, and is proud of the product on which she appears, adding her two cents into the debate on Instagram Wednesday.

“What these individuals who are protesting don’t understand is that for the first time in a long time I feel incredibly empowered and the most beautiful I’ve ever felt on this magazine,” she wrote. The 22-year-old, who has been open about her eating disorder and struggle with substance abuse, said that this cover is particularly important to her: “It’s so liberating to be able to show the world how confident a woman can be once she learns to love herself. It took soul searching and a bit of time before I learned to embrace my body therefore I could not have been more excited to do this shoot.” She added, “I think what’s more important is showing women there’s nothing wrong with embracing their bodies and sexuality. I am confident in my own skin and A PROUD @COSMOPOLITAN COVER GIRL!“

Lovato isn’t the only one coming to Cosmo defense. The magazine, which the late Helen Gurley Brown turned from a family to a women’s magazine in the late ‘60s, has always courted controversy. But Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles said the recent censorship “sends a signal to young women that their sexuality is shameful.” She added, “We’re not just about sex, we’re about empowering women in all aspects of their lives.”

You can join in the convo using the hashtag #unwrapmycosmo, which Lovato used on the caption of her post, across social media to campaign against the NCSE.

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