The owner of a Gold Coast magazine has defended its decision to feature a scantily clad young model on its cover following claims the girl had been sexualised.
The Haven For Families cover features the young blonde girl lounging against a wall with tousled bed-hair, dressed in a nude two-piece costume.
Some commentators have criticised the vintage-inspired image as "provocative", saying the girl's outfit is too skimpy and she had been made to look older than she was.
"We are all parents working on this publication and not one of us during production of this issue saw the cover in a sexual manner," owner Keeley O'Connor said.
"It was in no way meant to be received as inappropriate or provocative and we are all shocked by the responses."
In a statement posted to the magazine's Facebook page, she said the shoot was meant to be "whimsical and creative", not sexual.
