Why Beyoncé's Cover of Time's 100 Most Influential People Issue Is All Wrong

This week, Beyoncé covers Time magazine's annual list of the world's most influential people. The "Drunk in Love" singer is profiled by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who had her own huge year thanks to the continuing success of her leadership book "Lean In."

Sandberg praises Beyoncé for breaking sales records and changing the face of the music industry by dropping a surprise album with zero publicity. "In the past year, Beyoncé has sold out the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour while being a full-time mother. Her secret: hard work, honesty and authenticity," Sandberg writes. "Beyoncé doesn't just sit at the table. She builds a better one." Sandberg also cites Beyoncé for sampling a feminist quote from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in one of her songs, elevating the writer from respected by academics to popular in the mainstream.

Although Sandberg's endorsement of Beyoncé and Time's decision to put the multihyphenate star on the issue's cover could be seen as huge pluses for women, a closer look reveals it's not quite the case. Beyoncé appears in either a bra and underwear set or a swimsuit on the cover that looks more appropriate for a Vogue shoot than a magazine that normally covers business and international politics.

Let's compare Beyoncé's cover to last year's, which just so happened to feature her husband, Jay Z. Jay was pictured on the cover in a suit. 2012's cover starred actress Jennifer Lawrence, who was wearing a black turtleneck and only appeared from the waist up. Other previous covers have featured male politicians in suits and collages of Most Influential recipients, also fully clothed.

Time, who has seen newsstand sales plummet in the age of the internet, is clearly capitalizing on Beyoncé's massive popularity to sell magazines. There's nothing wrong with that. But the uncomfortable part is that they're not highlighting her talent or her business sense — they're showing off her body.

Some readers have already gone online to complain about both Beyoncé's inclusion on the list and about her portrayal on the cover. "Wow. Talk about Photoshopping! Isn't she supposed to be a figure for young women?! A natural thigh gap on Beyoncé is like a panda that hates bamboo," one wrote, referencing the over-Photoshopping "thigh gap" trend that has been plaguing fashion magazines and shopping sites of late.

And that's extra awkward when juxtaposed with Time's own bragging that this issue features a record 41 women out of 100 influencers.Time wants to be lauded for its feminism and for including women like film producer Megan Ellison, New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, and author Donna Tartt on the list. But these women and their achievements are given inside copy, while Beyoncé's scantily clad body gets the front cover. What does that say about Time's definition of "influence"?