Kerry Washington looks stunning on the the latest cover of Marie Claire - but more importantly the Scandal star looks like herself , following last month 's controversy in which InStyle came under fire for allegedly altering her appearance on its March issue . Marie Claire 's cover shot featuring the beautiful 38-year-old actress , who donned a smokey eye , tousled hair and nude lips for the magazine 's April issue , is a far cry from the unnatural-looking pictures that InStyle had debuted over a month ago . When Kerry happily shared the InStyle images on her Instagram last February , fans became outraged , accusing the magazine of allegedly whitening her skin and altering her features - which InStyle quickly denied . Scroll down for video . Natural beauty : Kerry Washington looks like her usual stunning self on the April cover of Marie Claire . Same woman : The magazine 's cover shot is a far cry from the unnatural-looking picture that InStyle had debuted over a month ago . The fashion publication apologized to fans and released a statement in which it blamed the actress ' seemingly altered skin tone on the 'lighting ' used during the cover shoot . 'We have heard from those who have spoken out about our newsstand cover photograph , concerned that Kerry 's skin tone was lightened , ' InStyle said . 'While we did not digitally lighten Kerry 's skin tone , our cover lighting has likely contributed to this concern . ' The magazine added : 'We understand that this has resulted in disappointment and hurt . We are listening , and the feedback has been valuable . We are committed to ensuring that this experience has a positive influence on the ways in which we present all women going forward . ' Posting on her own Twitter account , Kerry thanked the publication for making such a 'beautiful statement ' , adding that she was grateful the magazine had taken the time to open up such an 'important ' conversation . Sultry gaze : The 38-year-old actress donned a smokey eye , tousled hair and nude lips for the magazine 's April issue . Yesterday , Kerry proudly shared the Marie Claire cover on her Instagram account and the response has been overwhelmingly positive . 'Obsessed with this cover , ' one woman wrote . Another added : 'Yup , this is Kerry Washington the beautiful ! Great cover . ' Beyond the stunning cover shot , Kerry , who was interviewed by Girls star and author Lena Dunham for the publication , discussed motherhood , privacy and her hopes and dreams for her nearly one-year-old daughter Isabelle as she grows up . ' I just want [ Isabelle ] to know that she 's heard . Really heard , because I feel like that is what we all really want , ' she explained . Different person : InStyle came under fire last month for allegedly altering the Scandal star 's appearance on its March issue ( pictured ) . The magazine blamed her seemingly altered skin tone on the 'lighting ' Style star : Earlier this week , Kerry posed for photos at The Paley Center For Media 's 32nd Annual Paleyfest . Close cast : She also smiled while taking a group selfie with Jimmy Kimmel and her Scandal co-stars . 'When I think about any of the missteps in my life that I 've made , all of which I 'm grateful for , it 's because I just so wanted to be truly seen and heard for who I am and was afraid I was n't or would n't be . ' She added : ' I see you , I hear you , I 'm with you as you are . ' Kerry also noted that she never felt particularly beautiful when she was younger . The actress , who attended the Spence School in Manhattan with Gwyneth Paltrow , noted : ' I did n't grow up thinking I was pretty . 'There was always a prettier girl than me . So I learned to be smart and tried to be funny and develop the inside of me , because I felt like that 's what I had . '
The 38-year-old cover star dons a smokey eye , tousled hair and nude lips for the magazine 's April issue . Last month , Scandal was accused of altering the tone of Kerry 's skin and editing her features on the cover of the magazine 's March issue . The magazine apologized and blamed the actress ' ‘ unrecognizable ’ skin tone on the 'lighting ' of the cover .