Vogue will release a new Kamala Harris cover after fierce criticism aimed at the photo used

The image of the sneaker-clad vice-president elect was labelled “insulting” and a “poor representation”, now Vogue is backtracking.

Vogue magazine will publish a new limited edition cover featuring Kamala Harris following controversy surrounding the original photo used, which sparked accusations of a lack of respect for the vice-president elect.

The fashion bible will release the new cover image, which was previously only used online, after inauguration ceremonies on Wednesday.

Ms Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian descent, will be the first person of colour to be sworn in as vice-president.

The original cover showed Ms Harris posing in her own casual clothes and Converse sneakers for Vogue’s February issue, but social media users hit out at the photo choice.

They questioned why the digital cover, where Ms Harris wears a powder blue Michael Kors suits in front of gold background, wasn’t used in the print edition.

Converse sneakers had become a bit of a trademark for Ms Harris as she sometimes wore them while out campaigning.

Sources said the Harris camp were blindsided by the use of the informal image. Picture: Mark Makela/Getty Images/AFP

Questions were also raised about the lighting of Ms Harris, considering her skin tone – criticism that has previously been levelled at the magazine when gymnast Simone Biles was the cover star in August.

Page Six said sources close to Ms Harris claim she was blindsided by the use of the informal image.

A spokesperson for Vogue said: “In recognition of the enormous interest in the digital cover, and in celebration of this historic moment, we will be publishing a limited number of special edition inaugural issues.”

Vogue announced the cover news on Instagram, with one user writing: “This is the edition I want to buy. Ms Kamala Harris looking like the powerful and dignified woman she is.”

Anna Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief, previously defended the cover, but also acknowledged they had “heard and understand the reaction” to the print cover.

“When the two images arrived at Vogue, all of us felt very, very strongly that the less formal portrait of the vice president-elect really reflected the moment that we were living in which we are all in the midst – as we still are – of the most appalling pandemic that is taking lives by the minute,” she told The New York Times.

“And we felt to reflect this tragic moment in global history, a much less formal picture, something that was very, very accessible and approachable and real, really reflected the hallmark of the Biden-Harris campaign and everything that they are trying to, and I’m sure will, achieve.”

Wintour added it wasn’t the magazine’s intention to diminish the importance of the vice president-elects incredible victory.