Beyonce advert off colour

Updated 16.02 Fri Aug 08 2008

Keywords: skin, colour, hair, Knowles, L'Oreal, Beyonce

Cosmetics giant L'Oreal is accused of lightening Beyonce Knowles' skin tone in a new hair poster.

The L'Oreal ad features the black singer looking far paler than normal in her latest campaign for the beauty firm.

"It is categorically untrue that L'Oreal Paris altered Ms Knowles' features or skin tone" - L'Oreal

The company is denying they lightened her appearance for the shoot to make her look white.

The New York Post accused L'Oreal of making the singer appear like a "weird, nearly white version of herself."

The ex-Destiny's Child star has previously sported auburn coloured hair in an advertisement for a lightening product that ran in the September Elle magazine.

Beyonce, 27, has a £2.3 million, five-year contract with the beauty giant for which she only has to work ten days a year.

L'Oreal has hit back at the claims.

"We highly value our relationship with Ms Knowles. It is categorically untrue that L'Oreal Paris altered Ms Knowles' features or skin tone in the campaign for Feria hair colour," a spokesperson said.

The Knowles camp is not commenting on the allegations.