What we see in the media has a profound effect on what we think about ourselves and others and how we live our lives. Most of these effects are subconscious and can negatively affect women since the media is filled with unrealistic images of women.
These images have created a “toxic cultural environment” that has caused women to have eating disorders and negative views of their bodies. Author and ad critic Jean Kilbourne, who is behind the documentary Killing Us Softly, says that the average American woman encounters 3,000 advertisements per day. They are constantly bombarded by images of unrealistic body proportions and women who are airbrushed and Photoshopped to look flawless. They think what they see is real and that they should look this way, yet is just illusions used to sell products and control our ideals.
“Women and girls compare themselves to these images every day,” Kilbourne said. “And failure to live up to them is inevitable because they are based on a flawlessness that doesn’t exist.”
It has caused an astounding 50 percent of girls aged 3 to 6-years-old to worry about their weight. Women in the island of Fiji rushed to start diets and began thinking something was wrong with them after television arrived on their island. But they are trying to attain something that isn’t real because the images they see are altered. If these images are real, it’s likely that the women in them aren’t totally healthy.
Instagram account beauty.false is blowing the lid on these images showing models and influencers that modified their pictures to perfection and then images of them in everyday life. The contrast is stark showing that these women in ads aren’t perfect and look like us causing many to consider that maybe we’re all just perfect the way we are.
Speaking of misleading photos, there’s no way to tell where beauty.false gets their photos from or if the way they are represented are totally accurate. So, you’ll just have to make up your own mind! Either way, these images help us to strive to live in truth and at least try to be happy with whatever we’re working with, whether we seek to improve that or not.
Here are 60 images of influencers who alter photos and what they actually look like in real life:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_N83GaI8rD/
Sometimes all it takes is an angle and pose to change the way we feel about our bodies. A different cut in clothing can also make all the difference. Still, it’s the same body behind those clothes and poses.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDPmgAMq10K/
Models have to wear a lot of makeup so that it shows up properly in photos. That causes them to get acne. You’d never know that since so many photos are retouched.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBoXQqnqFg6/
This model is extremely fit. But she still has cellulite in real life. That’s because it’s normal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAtJHXxolZ8/
We all have our awkward stage when growing up. Models do too. We all grow and change.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAWAAapqbQ8/
Instagram is not a reflection of reality. It involves makeup, lighting, and filters. What you see on Instagram is not what you get.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ft4OdoxAz/
There’s a big difference between our selfies and pictures taken of us when we’re caught off-guard. The same goes for celebrities. The difference can be pretty drastic.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_N83GaI8rD/
The one on the left looks perfectly beautiful and fit. But her photo is altered to create this unrealistic look. Imagine trying to attain something that can never actually be attained. It could be enough to drive one mad or at least never allow you to be happy with the way you look.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B–GcrcjApM/
This Instagram influencer has very long legs. But they look a lot longer in her non-candid shots. But it’s just some Instagram trickery.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-sJNdhIKCP/
We can all look more narrow when we angle our body a certain way. But we can also do that with Photoshop. It’s all just illusion.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-hziv8oqMZ/
Both equally beautiful. But one is more realistic than the other. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all just be happy with the way we look?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9FLTJJI8mS/
Some people get butt implants to enhance the size of their bottom. But this seems to be case of Photoshop. Or just some serious angling.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B811YzZoW8L/
It probably is possible to get a waist that small if you train your waist with a corset. But she seems pretty healthy and beautiful looking in the photo on right. This photo looks like two totally different people even though it isn’t.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8woQSgozC1/
Sometimes you need braces. Even models do. Her smile is beautiful and bright in both photos.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8cLdFpB3jW/
Do you see the differences in between the two photos? We have bigger boobs, smaller chins, and smaller waists in the edited photo. I wonder what the editor thought was wrong with the first photo?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4IZiZpIu5Z/
Wrinkles… everyone’s got them. Or everyone will at some point. It’s just a fact of life.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3sIfpaoW1G/
There images are different looking. But they are all beautiful to me. Beauty all around.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3SZtwLosgh/
Feeling bad about your acne? Well, that can be normal. But so is acne.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Na5YJoU0q/
This is clearly the same beautiful woman in both photos. But doing your makeup can change up your whole look. Which is a lot of fun!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B27XMJFIwP_/
We all get blemishes. No one is totally perfect. Even Instagram influencers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1eXsJxo0zK/
Does her butt really look like that? Maybe, maybe not. She could just be more relaxed in one photo.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0q_nPwoAMx/
Want a juicy looking butt? Just hold up your butt cheeks. It’s as simple as that.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0glxqjIfau/
Runway booty looks a lot different than editorial booty. But they are all booties of the same woman. And even though they look different, they are all beautiful.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz3dy9CIA_W/
This is what you call an Instagram transformation. Believe it or not, both of these pictures are of the same woman. Just some editing work.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzGsYfMIxbF/
What a gorgeous girl. But that’s clearly a filter she’s using. I wonder why she wants to look entirely different?
https://www.instagram.com/p/By5v9g8IMCR/
You can look entirely different with just a little lean. You can look thinner or more voluptous. Or you can just be relaxed and look like yourself.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByqNHmjoc2d/
Having plastic surgery is a personal choice. It can make you look completely different. So can make and some hair dye.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BydV9ECI_XR/
All women are entitled to have whatever body they wish. But when is beautiful enough, enough? What message does this send to women when fit women have to fake being fitter than they are?
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByVkrjeiKGO/
28) Expectation vs. Reality
Sometimes our expectations don’t always match reality. These photos are proof. Sometimes reality is better.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByLVMB1I6GL/
Instagram influencers put on a facade. One that isn’t true to reality. So, don’t let images change the way you feel about you.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxp1cAxIUtA/
The girl on the right looks like someone you’d see on the street. On the left she looks like something most women could never be. But even reality TV stars and influencers look just like you and me in real life.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxko7V0oU7L/
Here we have the same face. Just with different facial expressions and different makeup. Still looking beautiful but one seems a little more real looking.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxYFp8ClU3Y/
Women aren’t the only ones seeking a picture perfect physique. These guys seem to have been using Photoshop too. What you see on Instagram isn’t always what you get IRL.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxSooHxltLp/
We all want to look our best in photos. But at one point does it become unhealthy? At what point does it become harmful and ourselves to others to portray ourselves as something we aren’t?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwsCky0l-lF/
This woman is stunningly beautiful. Whether she’s angling or not. But hitting those angles sure does make the photo look different.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwnGTq3l94K/
This woman is a fitness model. But it seems like she uses Photoshop. What kind of message does that send about fitness and health if a fitness model has to alter her natural looks?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwVQhJRl1En/
Ladies get all dressed up for Coachella. But for some reasons their posed photos look a lot different than their candid photos. Hmmmmm….
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwStSMxFDQG/
Whoaaahhh! How did she get her but to look like that? Is she clenching her butt cheeks in the photo on the left?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwP0eVmlvCj/
These photos show how things can change a lot over a few years. But one thing is obvious. We all started out as youngins.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwC0dWclUZS/
The photo on the right is of Carrington Durham. So is the photo on the right. But she looks kind of diferent in real life. Just as beautiful, but definitely different.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvxGYuqFpea/
There’s some pretty heavy edits here. When young girls see these images they thing there’s something wrong with their body because they can’t get it to look like the Instagram models can. But here’s a secret… neither can the Instagram models.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvhiv6kF5qE/
When this girl Photoshopped her photo… she left something out. She forgot to Photoshop her head. It doesn’t seem proportionate with her body size.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuokiNUlnu0/
42) No Shame In Her Edit Game
According to beauty.false, this influencer doesn’t hid ethe fact that she edits her photos. And more power to her. At least she is being with her audience member so they understand that these looks aren’t actually real.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuL7i6XFnAZ/
43) Same Woman, Different Lighting
It’s the same woman in these photos. There’s just different lighting going on. Make some different makeup and angling too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt-yqOOFUD0/
Here we have what some women want us to see. And then it’s what they reall have going on. Seems like a lot of effort when to take when you’re already beautiful.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtoccvFlJwh/
Besides the hair color, there is one other thing that is making the photos of the same woman look so different. That thing is lighting. It’s making a huge difference.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtEHssqlC-n/
There’s retouching. And then there is straight up lying. This influencer feels the needs to lie about her actual looks for some reason.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs-1-aSl9Ow/
It looks like someone played with these photos a bit. These women seem more full figured in the original photos. Their also seem flatter in the rear end area.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpSNgC9gpnT/
If you looked at this photo really quickly you might think it’s two different women wearing the same dress. But it’s not. The lighting and possibly some retouching has switched up the look.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoQ7zM1gxnw/
This woman is extremely fit. But apparently not fit enough in her own mind or her photographer’s because her photos are edited to make her look skinnier and smaller. If she thinks this about herself, what will other women think about themselves seeing photos like this?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnYqSPzg31h/
This girl definitely looks like herself. She just has makeup in one photo and doesn’t in the other. But there is definitely some Photoshopping being done in her other photos.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl7d5_DgjVA/
This chick is sucking it in real hard in the photo on the left. We’ve all done it. Or it could be Photoshop?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmLEHbZgZpw/
This photo could be altered. Or she just could be angled. Either way it’s important for women to see this unposed photos.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlyBU3TgCII/
Are these the same girl? No! But they look almost exactly the same. That’s because media tells women they should have a cookie cutter look.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlnQt1VAmu-/
Think that models don’t have cellulite? Wrong! There it is.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlcmMxxg9O6/
You can do incredible things with makeup. You can completely transform your look. But we all like pretty similar when the makeup comes off.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk-IFSfAnhj/
I personally don’t understand how this woman could look at the original photo and think it needs to be touched up in any way. But it is slightly altered and the lighting is changed. The one on the right looks just as beautiful to me.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkxecvwgaiN/
Most people have rolls when they sit down comfortably. Even Instagram models. It’s how skin works.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkHpWxuA8rq/
No one is perfect. But Instagram tricks some into believing this is so. Why does society want women to think they aren’t good enough the way they are? Now that’s the real question we should be asking… hmmm.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkAPQusgdN6/
Imagine all the young girls trying to be this thin. Then failing and hating their bodies because they can get their bodies to look like this. All because they’re being lied to.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj210nwgQW0/
At least this girl is being real. She’s showing a posed photo of herself. But also a funny photo of herself.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjphwpugoFC/
