Elle honored actress Mindy Kaling by putting her on the cover of its fourth annual Women in TV issue, but many are upset at the magazine for the way the The Mindy Project star is shown on the front page.

After her cover was released on Monday, Jan. 6, critics pointed out that Kaling shot is very different from that of fellow honorees Zooey Deschanel (New Girl), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) and Allison Williams (Girls).

Kaling, creator and star of her Fox show, is the only woman featured in black and white. She is also the sole person whose picture is cropped to focus on her face as opposed to her entire body. The magazine is getting criticized -- among other things -- from not showing Kaling's size 8 body, which she proudly admitting to having.

Elle stands by its cover treatment, telling E! News in a statement, "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." 

Kaling, 34, is also fully supportive of her cover shot.

"I love my @ELLEmagazine cover. It made me feel glamorous & cool," she tweeted Tuesday, Jan. 7. "And if anyone wants to see more of my body, go on thirteen dates with me."

Also defending Elle after it was slammed for not having Kaling show more skin, the actress made light of the situation by tweeting, "Wishing for more skin on my @ELLEmagazine cover? Chris Messina & I are naked on a brand new #themindyproject tonight, ya pervs!" 

Tags: mindy kaling the mindy project