Her outstretched arms signal openness.

But nearby, a child clings to her father and a woman looks at her in horror.

“New City Mascot Makes Her Debut,” reads the tagline beside Vesta, who graces the cover of Vestavia Hills Living magazine, the annual publication sponsored by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.

But Vesta, who first became a symbol of the Birmingham metropolitan area as a female version of Vulcan during the 2022 World Games, does not represent Vestavia Hills, according to City Councilor George Pierce.

“This character, Vesta, is NOT A Vestavia Hills mascot. The statement on the cover is incorrect,” Pierce wrote on social media. “There was a misunderstanding.”

Pierce was responding to a social media post from someone who found the mascot creepy.

“WHAT in the ever-loving, who-hey is THAT!? Oh, apparently it’s our new city MASCOT,” wrote Mike Largent, who used the hashtag #VestaviaZombie. “It screams, ‘Come to Vestavia Hills and I’ll get & eat you!’ The smile is from its last tasty meal.”

“OMG!” exclaimed another user. “Hysterical and frightening at the same time!”

The magazine cover also made the rounds on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

Neither the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce nor Jeff Downes, the city manager, could be reached for comment.

It’s unclear whether Vestavia Hills Living will republish the annual issue without Vesta.