A glimpse of bare flesh should come as no shock to the synthetic and superficially preened universe of Hollywood - or so you would think. As Season 12 of reality television fashion show Project Runway prepares to launch, billboard marketing activity has been forced into censorship due to an excess of exposed skin.The creative features supermodel host Heidi Klum clad in royal attire, alongside co-host Tim Gunn brandishing an oversized sewing needle. Below the duo are a gaggle of male and female models - fully oiled and completely naked. Planned to span the formats of billboard, bus shelter, online and magazines, the risque image has been condemned by regulators for being too shocking for the delicate eyes along Sunset Boulevard.
The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has the authority to ban displays containing 'obscene matters', and so broadcasting channel Lifetime has been forced to run the campaign in Los Angeles with digitally inserted underwear. Meanwhile, the more liberal city of New York will go ahead with the original artwork while Klum made the image available across Twitter yesterday.
