People are mad at Snapchat and here's why

Snapchat's nod to girl power on International Women's Day may have gone horribly wrong.

The social network rolled out three special filters yesterday of three iconic women who were historic leaders in their fields - artist Frida Khalo, activist Rosa Parks and scientist Marie Curie.

But women are fuming over the filter of Nobel prize-winning chemist Marie Curie, who was given smoky eyeliner and long lashes in addition to the background of beakers and test tubes giving off a colourful smoke.

Many have slammed the cosmetic additions as "unnecessary" and "inaccurate".

"As a lady scientist, I'm confused about why this filter needs to include makeup... you can't even wear makeup in a clean room and do you think Marie Curie was focused on eye liner," one woman tweeted.

"Shout out to Snapchat for adding eyelashes to the Marie Curie filter. Forgot that's what she was famous for," another woman wrote.

"Like. Why??? Marie Curie didn't wear a smudged shadow wing," another wrote.

Another female scientist tweeted: "The Marie Curie filter on Snapchat though? Reminds me of my undergrad biochem days."

It is understood while Snapchat teamed up with the estates of Parks and Kahlo to honour their legacies through the filters. However, this was not the case for Curie who does not have one.

The Kahlo filter gives people a set of thick eyebrows, red lips and a flower headband. The Rosa Parks filter uses a sepia-toned picture, with a hat, hair and glasses.

But it appears these too have also ruffled feathers with some criticising the eye and skin colour of the filters.

Snapchat has yet to comment on the backlash.