Claudia Schiffer photos 'cause race row'

Claudia Schiffer has been accused of racial insensitivity after photographs emerged of her wearing black face make-up.

The images, originally taken in 2007, were shot by fashion designer and photographer Karl Lagerfeld.

Shevelle Rhule, fashion editor of black lifestyle magazine Pride, told the Daily Mail: "It shows poor taste and it's offensive. There are not enough women of colour featured in mainstream magazines. This just suggests you can counteract the problem by using white models."

She continued: "I don't believe they deliberately set out to offend, they obviously see it as being arty and feel that they are pushing boundaries.

"But clearly no thought has been given to the history behind what they have done and the comparisons it draws with minstrel shows."

A spokesman for Schiffer said: "The pictures have been taken out of context. The images were designed to reflect different men's fantasies.

"The pictures were not intended to offend, they were done very creatively and they are some of Karl Lagerfeld's favourite images of Claudia. People should not jump to conclusions."

The images appeared in German photography magazine Stern Fotografie to celebrate its 60th anniversary.