Mindy Kaling. Today

Mindy Kaling is being celebrated by Elle magazine as one of four cover subjects for its Women in TV Issue. But some found controversy in the fact that Kaling's black and white cover contrasted with the color covers for actresses Amy Poehler, Zooey Deschanel and Allison Williams.

Kaling's cover shot was also cropped just below her chest, while Poehler, Deschanel and Williams all posed in fuller-body shots cropped at the knees.

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Jezebel was among sites that called out the difference, noting that Kaling, 34, is the lone woman of color in the group who happens to be "on the record saying she's a size 8, not a size zero."

The Gloss summed up its argument, in part, by saying, "The fact that Kaling is a woman of color and a woman whose size defies the conventions for actresses are two traits that should never be stripped from her when slender, white women are allowed to keep their whiteness and bodies."

But Kaling, the star and creator of Fox's "The Mindy Project," took to Twitter on Tuesday to defend her look and the magazine.

Elle re-tweeted Kaling's take on the controversy, and in a statement published by E! Online, the mag said, "Mindy looks sexy, beautiful and chic. We think it is a striking and sophisticated cover and are thrilled to celebrate her in our Women in TV Issue."

Elle was forced to defend another cover just two months ago, when actress Melissa McCarthy appeared on the Women in Hollywood Issue bundled up in a long coat.



