"Selena Gomez on the cover of V Magazine looks like one of these child pageant queens, making me feel extremely uncomfortable," said @mary-in-fashion.
"@leftbanks did you see a Selena Gomez for V mag she looks like a child trying to be sexy, I felt so bad awkward looking the pics...," said @Eddypp.
One commenter simply stated: "Ummm,,.this is beyond creepy. Not only does she look 12, they styled her like a 12 year old. The hat and the little bows on her hair while topless, not okay.'
And the criticisms went beyond just gut reactions as some commenters questioned the logic of the star's PR team: "really uncomfortable viewing... just plain weird... she looks like a child dressing up like a child... i.e. is she meant to be a cowgirl? Just bizarre that anyone in her PR team would look at this and go... 'yep good photos'."
The former Disney star, who completed her transition into adult acting roles in Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers, was interviewed by James Franco for the spread.
She talks about an ex-boyfriend, assumed to be Justin Bieber, and says she won't be in a relationship anytime soon.
"The older I get, I'm guarding certain things more," she said.
"When you're young and you're being told so many different things it's almost felt like all we had was each other, like the world was against us, in a way.
"It was really weird but it was incredible."
Gomez is working with Franco on his John Steinbeck adaptation, In Dubious Battle.
The controversial shoot was photographed by infamous fashion big-names Inez & Vinoodh.
- AAP, Daily Mail
