Karl Lagerfeld: Jessica Simpson, on the cover of Esquire magazine

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Jessica Simpson, on the cover of Esquire magazine

Razor sharp: Jessica Simpson on the cover of the May edition of Esquire magazine

Jessica Simpson ,the american pop singer turned reality TV star has been pictured holding a razor to her face, which is covered with shaving cream for the cover of men's magazine Esquire.

The shoot is a recreation of a famous Esquire image of Italian actress and Marilyn Monroe lookalike Virna Lisi from March 1965.

The photograph was originally concieved by esteemed art director George Lois as a provocation on women's liberation.

Original: Virna Lisi on the cover of Esquire in March 1965

He said in 2005: "I spoofed the upcoming woman's movement by slapping shaving cream on the beautiful blond Italian actress Virna Lisi [because] no American beauty had the [guts] to pose for it."

Jessica, 27, has now stepped up to the challenge, although given her well-documented struggle to differentiate chicken from fish on her former reality show Nick and Jessica: Newlyweds, it's unlikely to be an effort at any kind of social commentary.