Is Dakota Fanning too young for her Cosmo cover?

Actress Dakota Fanning on the cover of the February's issue of "Cosmopolitan" magazine

/ Hearst

(CBS) Dakota Fanning is Cosmopolitan's February cover girl and the 17-year-old actress' appearance on the magazine next to headlines like "His Best Sex Ever" and "Too Naughty to Say Here" is causing quite the stir.

This is not the first time the teen actress has gotten flack. Critics have said the teen is inappropriately sexualized. Last month her ad for the Marc Jacobs fragrance "Oh, Lola!" -- which shows her with an oversized fragrance bottle placed in-between her legs -- was banned in the U.K.

Inside February's Cosmo it was this topic of coming of age that was the subject of her interview, which was titled "Welcome to Your Cosmo Years, Dakota" (the starlet turns 18 next month). The story looks at the child actress-turned teen's evolution.

Despite all the fuss, Fanning seems very confident in who she is, telling the magazine, "Since I was young I've always known who I was. I never really had to go through finding who I am. I've always felt really secure."

The issue goes on stands Jan. 10.

[saturn05]

This is entertainment news for you folks who complain that this isn't news. I do wish kids would not be sexualized and of course it is usually girls of course. Another step back for women.

[ajk_cbsnews]

She's a very talented young actress and that is why she is on the cover. The perfume ad is another matter!

[intonews]

Yes, especially being surrounded by adult themed headlines. Really Cosmo...but remember she is being handled by adults who also help make these decisions. They should also be held accountable. Can't imagine this exact cover bring framed in the family home.

[erasmus111]

She is too young.

She was too young to play the role of Cherie in the Joan Jett movie, too. She may have been the same age as Cherie at the time, but there is no way that I would be allowing my daughter to play that role at that age.

[jonds56]

If she waited one month the flap would be over? My grandmother was 16 and pregnant when she married my 27 year old grandfather in 1917.

[jaxthefax]

Yes, she is. Seventeen should be protected. Nice going though people, just continue adding to little-girl turmoil and she is still very much that and all the other young girls who look up to her. Sure you won't mind her on that cover; she's not yours, the other too. I know some that do, the old ones that have watched their little girls grow up, watched them suffer, those that know anyway. They mind and would do anything to go back and change things.

[tsigili]

Not at all.

Professional models are expected to start by the time they are 16, and be fully capable by 18. Their careers typically end around 27, as models.

[longtree-2009]

17 y/o is old enough, nearing 18 when she is legally an adult. don't see the big deal about it. who buys cosmo anyway? hopefully the majority of cosmo readers are females. if she were appearing in playboy, could understand the buzz but cosmo?

[baileyccc]

And this is news because???????????

[pwgrant]

It's not; it's entertainment. Lest you be reminded that YOU clicked the link. Thus I surmise, you were indeed, entertained.

[credibility2]

Miley Cyrus had just turned 17 when she posed on the cover of Harper's Bazaar. I don't think celebrities, of any age, should be on the covers of supposed fashion magazines. They're not models and many aren't even attractive.

[Jaylah54]

Cosmo isn't a "fashion" magazine. It's a sex-manual for girls fresh from being "jail bait."