A little photo retouching never harmed anyone. However, it’s important to make sure not to lose yourself along the way and become a fool for the world to see. Some influencers and social media users fall under that group! They have gone the extra mile to redefine the anatomically impossible results just to invent a whole new, unrealistic version of themselves. Here are a few examples…
The Less You Have, the Better
Imagine you’re scrolling through your Instagram feed when this gal suddenly pops up! Yikes! Surely you’d be taken aback, are we right? Her legs are photoshopped to such an extent that they’re hardly recognizable.
Maybe having unrealistic limbs online is the new thing in town. Or perhaps, the new fad is wearing shoes that are bigger than your thighs. That’s something to think about right there. So, next time you see something like this, don’t let the first half of the picture fool you!
Economy Is Not for Me!
Flexing can be cool as long as you don’t end up making a fool of yourself. This particular influencer, or social media user, was caught red-handed when he claimed via Snapchat that he would never sit in the economy section of an airplane, all whilst sitting in economy.
This hilarious moment is a reminder to watch yourself before doing something like this — ya know, if you don’t want to get caught by internet trolls!
Something Seems Off
This guy’s motto is probably something along the lines of “the more unrealistic you make it, the better it is!” After all, body proportions are so outdated nowadays, are we right?! Who cares about looking realistic when Photoshop exists?
Being famous and presenting the best, albeit edited version of yourself is what social media is all about, isn’t it? Sarcasm aside, this guy seemed to take this sentiment a little too literally.
Not Your Average Ballerina!
Forget all the graceful ballerinas you’ve ever seen! Nothing can beat the shock this one offers you. This side-by-side comparison shows what the original photo looked like when it was uploaded to the photographer’s Instagram page, in comparison with the influencer’s version.
It’s quite alarming to see what kind of beauty and body expectations people have for themselves. Enough is enough, people. It’s time to start loving yourself for everything that you are!
Photoshop Your Reflection Too!
There’s no shame in wrinkles. After all, aging is a natural part of life. Even so, if you decide that you want to blur those wrinkles for a quick selfie, that’s also fine! We’re not judging you.
If you are going to Photoshop off your wrinkles, though, then try not to forget about your reflection in the mirror — especially if you’re attempting to promote an anti-wrinkle product!
Blinding
We don’t know about you guys but this obviously-editted photo reminded of the Friends episode, “The One With Ross’ Teeth.” In attempt to look good for his date, Ross decides to whiten his teeth.
Unfortuantely, he leaves the whitening solution on for too long, causing his teeth to turn into a blinding shade of white — so blinding that he couldn’t even hold a full conversation with his date until they turned off the lights. While pearly whites is a desired trait by many, we can promise that no one wants glow-in-the-dark white.
Not Born This Way
Who doesn’t want nice, doe-like, bright eyes? That dollish look is surely adored by all, but this woman right here took it a little too seriously and overdid it to the point that our own eyes hurt from looking at the photo for too long.
It was probably inspired by Margaret Keane’s “Big Eyes” paintings. Even so, this woman photoshopped her features so much that it makes you do a double-take to figure out whether or not you’re looking at a real-life human!
Texture Is Beautiful!
While the world is beggining to realize the toxicity behind fake promotions and heavily modified pictures, it’s high time we also adore our humanly features and textures. It can be highly deceiving and quite exhausting to constantly see poreless, textureless, hairless, wrinkleless, and unrealistic skin all over the internet.
These kinds of comparisons are a reminder to stop hating on yourself based on unrealistic beauty expectations and accept the real you. Having textures is human; having textures is beautiful.
Asia or Africa?
Nowadays, most of the photos that we see and are exposed to on social media are so perfectly and precisely edited, it’s hard to even tell what’s real and what isn’t. Take this photo, for instance.
Apparently, copying and pasting animals has become a trend. Unfortunately, though, this woman couldn’t differentiate between an African elephant and an Asian elephant. If we’re being honest, though, that’s not really the problem. The problem is why — why did she feel the need to Photoshop elephants into her photo?
Beauty Delusions
Misleading images of celebrities aren’t an uncommon sighting. However, it often hurts to see the modifications reach a point that you can’t even recognize the celebrity without all the edits.
The obsession to be ‘perfect’ and match the toxic beauty standards not only preaches a harmful message, but also puts unneeded societal pressure on people. This side-by-side comparison of a particular Chinese celebrity is the perfect example.
Same Girl
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to change your face and put on a new one just like you pick your outfit for the day? Or would it ruin your uniqueness and your identity?
Some social media users, such as this one, have taken Photoshop to a whole new and bizarre level. While so many young girls strive to make themselves look older, this woman has taken the opposite approach, editing her photos to the point that she looks like a 12-year-old.
Someone Doesn’t Believe in Anatomy
Get ready to be blown away by another ‘rib hater.’ It seems like being anatomically incorrect is the new beauty standard everywhere. Photoshopping is alright to a certain extent, but it shouldn’t get to the point that you’ve fully taken away your identity.
Denying or rejecting the very assets you were born with is not okay! People need to love themselves for who they are, no matter their size or shape. Influencers these days have taken Photoshop to an extreme that just isn’t healthy, even posing an issue for those that have body dysmorphia.
Hi There
It’s hard to understand what people get out of ruining their perfectly sculpted face for nothing. Rather than making himself look more attractive, this dude became an online laughing stock. Even men are not spared from the venomous web of unrealistic Photoshop practice.
This guy looks like a pretty handsome man without all those filters and absurd modifications. Geez! Why would anyone do that to themselves, that too on a dating app? Seems as though he wanted to bring his Sims character to life.
Barbie & Ken
According to today’s beauty standards, anything is acceptable as long as you don’t resemble an actual human. While playing with Bratz dolls during their childhood, these two lovely individuals clearly made a pact that they’d one day transform themselves into one.
The photoshopped and face-tuned pictures are so blurred out that they could make anyone do a double-take. Are these two individuals even able to move their faces? It’s as if they’ve just endured an intense round of botox!
Chester, Is That You?
If you’ve ever wondered what Cheetos’ official mascot, Chester the Cheetah, would look like as a human, here you have it! In all seriousness, this would have been a beautiful picture had this woman not edit it so heavily.
From the exaggerated body features to the oversized eyes and even the background — everything in this photo is enhanced to the maximum level possible… although she did miss a spot of fake spray tan on her right arm.
Having Ribs Is So Last Year
Okay, forget what you learned in biology class. Apparently, ribs are no longer essential to protect your organs… according to some influencers. Who needs ribs, rights? All jokes aside, this is yet another example of the most obsessive toxic beauty expectation of today’s date — having the tiniest waist.
It’s saddening and sickening to watch all these photographs being edited to such an extreme length just to assure that they match up to social media beauty standards.
‘Half’-Hazard!
The obsession with unrealistically airbrushed skin and age-inappropriate features is not funny anymore. This picture is the perfect example of that! Then again, though, we can’t blame them considering that the whole world is running after such unrealistic — and frankly, hazardous — beauty expectations and standards.
Still, if you’re going to give in to peer pressure and post this on a virtual platform for the internet to judge, make sure to do it properly Kimmy! No one loves a half-airbrushed face, after all!
Mrs. Incredible, Anyone?
When it comes to advertising and selling a product, it’s no secret that most companies edit their photos and use Photoshop. Still, we’ve rarely heard of companies increasing the bust size on a model to sell padded bras, or elongating legs to advertise skinny jeans.
Ali Express — an online retail service — was selling denim skinny jeans on their website. For some reason, though, they decided that it would be a good idea to stretch the model’s legs to the point that she’s beginning to resemble Mrs. Incredible from The Incredibles.
Sketch Artist
When it comes to Instagram, users are all about editing their photos to perfection. Nowadays, there are tools for everything — from shrinking the size of your nose to getting rid of your double chin to smoothing your skin out to the point that it looks textureless. But, what happens if you edit your photos past the point of perfection?
Well, this is one such example. What could have been a seriously beautiful picture was turned into a portrait of sorts. Seriously — this woman edited her face so much that this photo could actually be mistaken for a drawing. Good luck with the comments, dear!
Thumbs Up
We shouldn’t judge those who edit their photos; it’s okay to do so. It’s okay to decrease the size of your tummy by an inch or two if that’s what helps you become more confident. A little extra dash may mean tinting your lips or contouring down your plump cheeks.
The texture tool is often used if you suffer from uneven skin tone here and there. It’s no wonder why people use makeup tools and methods, such as highlighter and contouring. Still, the edits this Instagrammer made using the texture tool may have not turned out the way she originally intended.