35 women who ‘peaked’ in high school before their looks went downhill

Looking at all these images was sad. Not because I had to look at and write about all these women who had lost their looks since high school.

No.

This was sad because it shows how many women—for whatever lame reasons—have convinced themselves that they look bad. That they have lost the beauty of their youth. That they have “glowed down.”

It all started because TikTok user @gabslife99 posted a challenge. She said she physically peaked in high school and wanted others to share their photos.

Many did, but for the most part, I would say the only thing most of them have lost is their youth. And news flash, that happens to all of us.

1. She’s still got her dimples

Her hair is a little darker, she’s wearing glasses, and she’s wearing a few more pounds in her face. Oh, and she’s not wearing any makeup. Other than that, she looks pretty much the same to me.

2. Gone fishin’

She’s not made up and posing like she’s sitting for a glam shot. Now she’s out on the lake having fun. Her hair is pulled back and not styled. At the angle it’s hard to tell if she’s gained significant weight, but she still has her glow on as far as I’m concerned.

3. Happy smile

Her smile hasn’t changed at all. Her round face is a little rounder, and her laugh lines are deeply set. A good thing, in my book. She looks a little older and her hair is darker. That’s it.

4. Contented wife

Slim bride. And assuming that is her man, she looks pretty happy to me. They both look happy, and whatever you look like, that’s the goal, right?

5. Tan lines

I bet if she smiled and got some sun, she would look a lot the same. Taking a picture of yourself where people can see up a nostril is never appealing.

6. Times change

She actually looks drunk of stoned in the newer picture. She’s not wearing makeup, her brows are different, and yes, she has gained weight. But hardly “glowed down.”

7. Not that different

I think I’m going to be saying this a lot. Most of us look different with no makeup on. The only difference here is no glasses and no makeup.

8. Try smiling

First shot, face is open and smiling. And surprise! She’s wearing makeup. Second, glasses, scrunched up face, and no make up. Get over yourself. You are still beautiful.

9. She became a mom

So, a lot of years have passed. You’ve been pregnant, and despite what the media and celebrities would have us believe, you’re body typically doesn’t bounce back. But it can be done.

10. If you just tried

Because, you know, if you’re trying to look bad, that’s a great expression to pick. And most people’s selfies don’t look like their real face. That is a fact.

11. Life is good

She is so beautiful in both these shots. Just in different ways. The young woman with time to do her makeup, and the mom that spends her time on her child.

12. She’s gained weight

There is no escaping that. She knows it, and we know it. But that looks like a happy smile to me. And she looks happy in the progression of shots in her video. And frankly, she still has a pretty face.

13. Turn it upside down

Yes, that’s an attractive look. A distorted, scrunched up selfie face. I bet if put some makeup on and smiled like you did in the first shot, you would look 100% better.

14. Such a cute face

Honestly? I prefer that cute round face and smile. She is so cute. I just wish we could see the gorgeous color of her eyes—assuming they aren’t touched-up like it looks the rest of her face may be.

15. Which one is which?

Those two must be sisters. Maybe even twins. It’s hard to tell which one of them is in the current pic. And with the glasses and the blur, I really don’t see that much of a difference in how she has aged, either

16. Is this reversed?

Is it just me? It’s like we’re looking at the young girl still carrying her baby fat in the second pic, and her grownup self in the first. Because forget about the weight change, she looks younger to me.

17. Is she mad?

Wait a minute. Let me put my hair back in a way many women can’t get away with, scrub off my makeup, and make a mad face. Then compare myself to my younger glammed up self. And find fault. Makes sense to me.

18. Um, where is the change?

Same girl. Different—shorter—hair, and if I can see past the blurry image, she has gained some sort of skin condition. I hope she can overlook that, because she is very cute.

19. I don’t even know what to say

She’s clearly gained a lot of weight. And you know what, without knowing the circumstances, I’m not about to say something cruel. But if she’s really concerned about glowing down, would she be wearing that happy smile?

20. Life and health happens

Change the hair color and the angle of the pic, and she’d look exactly the same. I don’t think marriage, PCOS, & 1 kid has changed her all that much, and certainly not for the worse.

21. Camera angles

First, I don’t care what glasses are cool and or trendy. If they don’t suit your face, don’t wear them. Second, lighting, camera angles, pose, and a face not crammed up into the lens all play a part. Not to mention makeup and hair.

22. Still rockin’ in

She’s beautiful. And I would even go so far to say that despite the weight gain, her face looks better. But maybe because we can’t see much of it in the fist shot.

23. Lose the duck face

It’s too bad we really can’t see her full face in either shot. It makes the whole she’s “glowed down” think harder to call. But there is no escaping she has gained weight.

24. Just smile

Seriously? She thinks she’s glowed down? Maybe she’s dealing with depression or something, because she while she certainly doesn’t look happy, she is still beautiful.

25. Stand up and see the difference

It would be easier to just claim that she has gained weight, but is that really so? I think she’s lying in bed in this picture, and that completely changes the shape of your face. All it takes is a few extra pounds that you’re carrying in your cheeks.

26. Still glowing

I do like her hair better long. And she has definitely gained weight, but she still looking happy to me.

27. Photoshop

Come on. Why would anybody compare themselves to an old Photoshopped picture? That first shot has been completely touched up. Women need to realize that they cannot compare themselves to a digitized image.

28. Just a different smile

The smile is different, and the pose is slightly different, although she still does have her hip shot in both. Has she gained weight? I can’t really tell. Does it even matter? She looks very good.

29. Different eyes?

We have another case of “I don’t look as good as my high school glam shot.” Why would anybody who has their hair pulled back in a messy bun and has no makeup on feel that they would compare with that picture?

30. Hardly flattering

What’s the difference? In the second she looks tired, and she has no makeup on. In the first, she’s out somewhere having fun. This is hardly a glow down.

31. Glamor shot?

This is an indication of a sad state of affairs. 21 years old and worrying about glowing down, when comparing yourself to a glamour shot you had taken when you were 13 years old. So sad.

32. Such beautiful eyes

She’s working on losing weight? Well, we Can’t see this alleged weight. But I will say, I think she’s glowed up and looks incredible. I love being able to see her eyes without the makeup.

33. Frowner downer

It’s amazing how much a happy smile can change your appearance. She has not changed at all other than the sour face, which is completely in her control to change.

34. Exactly the same

Nothing has changed about her face. The only things different are camera angel, makeup—or lack of it—and lighting.

35. Oh, please

So let me get this straight. In the older picture you are all glammed up—hair, face, and clothes. In the second you look like you’ve just finished an intense workout. But you have glowed down? So idiotic.

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