As we noted yesterday, Newsweek devotes its cover story this week to the impending release of federal prisoner number 55170-054, better known outside of Camp Cupcake as Martha Stewart.

In that story, Newsweek informs us that the billionaire Doyenne of Domesticity has shed 20 pounds and some “worry lines.” And, because a photo is worth a thousand words, we are treated to a shot of a positively glowing Stewart in pink gracing the cover.

There’s one tiny catch. Turns out Newsweek’s photo is as dubious as jurors decided Stewart’s story was about her role in the ImClone stock scandal.

USA Today’s Mark Memmott reports today that Newsweek — which headlines its profile “Inside the Martha Makeover Machine” — did a little makeover of its own:

Newsweek put Stewart’s head on a model’s body for a cover story that looks at how she will emerge from prison “thinner, wealthier and ready for prime time.”

Assistant managing editor Lynn Staley says the photo won’t mislead readers — though it sure fooled us. “Anybody who knows the (Stewart) story and is familiar with Martha’s current situation would know this particular picture” was a “photo illustration,” she says.

Sort of like this one?

—S.Q.S.