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“All that is gold does not glitter,”—J.R.R.Tolkien wrote in The Lord of the Rings. The opposite is also true: not everything that shines is gold. And it’s something that we should keep in mind in our modern world which is dominated by the internet and social media.

We’re constantly bombarded by seemingly ‘perfect’ photos of people on Instagram but a lot of the images are heavily photoshopped. The Instagram Reality subreddit is dedicated to collecting the most retouched IG photos and we’ve collected some of the freshest examples of what not to do to your pics. Scroll down, upvote your faves, and read on for our earlier in-depth interviews with the subreddit’s moderators.

When you’re done looking through this list and if you want to see more examples of mindblowing Instagram photoshops, check out Bored Panda's previous articles about the Instagram Reality subreddit right here, here, and here.

#1

I'm So Glad This Greek TV Host Has Her Own Personal Cloud That Follows Her Everywhere She Goes

I'm So Glad This Greek TV Host Has Her Own Personal Cloud That Follows Her Everywhere She Goes

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Marcellus the Third
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the cloud is the actual star, and the fact that the girls all look similar is a coincidence? IDK don't watch Greek tv.

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#2

Maybe Just One More Filter...

Maybe Just One More Filter...

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TheDivineMs.M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand how people see this about themselves and think "yeah, that looks good. People will believe that!"

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zims
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can someone look at this and think "Great! Totally believable! I'll post this online for everyone to see!"

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Ilya Ditkovskiy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am re-watching Full Metal Alchemist at the moment and I am pretty sure this is what comes out if you try to do transmutation on a human body

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Rred2
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wondered what happened to The Muppets, Miss Piggy.

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Fred Bigox
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wtf ???? And they think this looks good? Should have gone to specsavers.

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Nadine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor soul. I am sure there is some psychological issue here.

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Suzanne Clark
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like something that would arrive in the mail, in a plain brown wrapper.

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DforDorothy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lady, you have some toothpaste on your lips. (Let's hope it's just toothpaste. 🤨)

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Mokayokok
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the hair color is different - you can tell in the back - and completely photoshopped on, hence her arm. If you're going to try and full the ppl who haven't had the misfortune of meeting you in person, at least make it look, I don't know, real.

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Carmen Honacker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't even know what to say. I mean, what does she see that makes her think this is awesome and post it for the world to see??

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Vanta Black
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

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SashaAlexandra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so bad it`s good! Looks pretty much like a Mighty Boosh creature!

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Layla Corman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah...no one can tell. Not at all. 😒 -The most delicious person ever.

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Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've got a feeling meeting her in person would be terrifying with or without the photoshopping.

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DC
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they modeled a Barbie after her, the Barbie would have to be modified so it doesn't look that natural.......

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Fred and George Weasley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

god its my sleep paralysis demon *slowly backs away into a 150ft deep cupboard to hide in the centre of the earth for all eternity*

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Jaybird3939
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If she ever gets lost in the dark, all she has to do is smile, right?

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NWB
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont even know how you do that to yourself hahahaha

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Sandra Llewelyn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can this person think this makes them look better? Or is it a spoof?

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Peter Chee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The background through her car window looks like a video game

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Aneese
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know a 6 yr old who can do better photoshopping than this BUT NEVER WOULD.

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Fulllength
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes people do this probably because they think it will pass as real, but because they try to edit aspects that they think might look good on them

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James Naron
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank GOD this is fake. I would not be able to sleep if this was something that exists in the world.

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Jahnabi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe this is how a Walking or driving nightmare looks like

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Locd_doc93
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looking at this picture makes my eyes water, not from sadness but that thing that just makes your eyes water because it's not...right?

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Ember
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't bear to look at this...WHAT... A... MESS...

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Ami Temi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, the superior blonde, blue-eyed bombshell cliche. Good heavens!

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Hannah M
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is literally the eyes nose, and hair, cut out of a Barbie doll and stuck on her face, right?

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-mar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like she just polished off a powdered donut.

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-mar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She looks like she just polished off a box of powdered donuts.

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Mimi777
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m scared. Do the people who do this sort of thing genuinely think people won’t notice or what. I would like to understand their thoughts behind it and why they photoshop to this extreme.

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Malicity D'Obscuro
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely terrifying. Is she trying to look like the fetish Living Dolls?

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Damon Gates
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It reminds me how the audience traditionally screams in fear when Columbia appears leaning over Janet at the end of the song "Toucha-Toucha Touch Me" in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".

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glowworm2
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like somebody took a zoomed in photo of their Barbie doll.

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deanna woods
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are some of these people trying to scare others with their Instagram profiles?

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Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus Christ - this is frightening! No, it doesn't look fake at all.

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Dolevaal
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her teeths look kike they would melt away in her mouth... so painfull :-(

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Bebe
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Michelle C
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ellie Mae Clampett done had herself a hell of a midlife crisis

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#3

Damn He's Ripped

Damn He's Ripped

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RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ripped all right. Ripped his arm straight out of a magazine page.

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The Instagram Reality moderators previously told Bored Panda that the coronavirus quarantine had slightly increased the subreddit’s membership but the amount of edited and photoshopped photos that people upload hasn’t decreased much during the pandemic.

The mods told Bored Panda that what people want to see are natural photos of influencers and celebrities, not done up and “edited to hell” images. “The influencer is going to realize that, I’m sure," the mods said about how they expected popular IG users to react to being stuck at home during the lockdowns which are now being eased or ended all over the world.

#6

Found One In The Wild. I Bet She’s Never Late With Those Legs

Found One In The Wild. I Bet She’s Never Late With Those Legs

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According to the Instagram Reality team, “insecurity, envy, and money” are the forces driving some people to photoshop their pictures so heavily before uploading them on social media. That and wanting to avoid embarrassment because of real or imagined imperfections.

What can start out as a few simple edits or adding some minor filters can eventually lead to major photoshopping. And that creates a huge difference between how the person looks in real life and how they present themselves online.

To be fair, most of us try to show the best sides of ourselves to people. But there’s a rather obvious line between that and turning yourself into a completely different individual online.

#8

Such A Pretty Sunset :)

Such A Pretty Sunset :)

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#9

This Is... A Lot To Take In

This Is... A Lot To Take In

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#11

Where's The Nose?

Where's The Nose?

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#12

Well That's Something New

Well That's Something New

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Lynn Donovan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to admire this lifestyle. Beauty gurus in their big mansions, youtubers turned millionaires, "influencers" with their pretty hair and make-up always on point. And then I realized how tiresome their lives were. All the fakeness of it. I don't want to live a life where it takes me 20mn to post a photo so people I don't know and I don't care about click a button that magically makes me "worthy". The lack of self-esteem, the level of body dismorphia they suffer, the sadness they must feel every morning looking in the mirror and failing to see the true beauty in themselves. I'll pass, thanks. I left this world of consumerism and found myself a new dream: owning a piece of land to grow my own vegetable garden. It was truly a breath of fresh air.

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#13

She Looks Better Without It Though....

She Looks Better Without It Though....

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#14

The Face Of A Ps3 Character

The Face Of A Ps3 Character

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#16

Turns Out Those Organs Did Exist After All

Turns Out Those Organs Did Exist After All

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#19

Post vs. Profile Picture.

Post vs. Profile Picture.

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RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She looks so much better in reality. Do some people go for the extra large, square forehead look?

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#21

This Fake Influencer Likes To Pretend She’s Rich, Constantly Posting Pictures Like That With Captions Like „short Trip To Clear My Mind“.

This Fake Influencer Likes To Pretend She’s Rich, Constantly Posting Pictures Like That With Captions Like „short Trip To Clear My Mind“.

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#22

This Girl Has A Disney-Themed Account, For Her ‘Travels’... Most Of The Pics Are Like This

This Girl Has A Disney-Themed Account, For Her ‘Travels’... Most Of The Pics Are Like This

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#23

A$$ So Phat Even The Car Had To Make Space

A$$ So Phat Even The Car Had To Make Space

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#24

Why Do Women Want To Look Like This??

Why Do Women Want To Look Like This??

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#25

Who Needs Organs Anyway?

Who Needs Organs Anyway?

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Tracey Hirt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do people do this? Do they think anyone finds a 12-inch waist attractive?

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#26

I Think We've All Wondered What She Really Looks Like

I Think We've All Wondered What She Really Looks Like

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have always wondered (I saw this person on another panda thread) she actually has really nice real life proportions it must be so hard for people with body dysmorphia and or low self esteem (I mean my self esteem isn't great as I'm a heavily scarred from various surgeries etc and im not exactly fit, but i can own it)

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#27

Profile Pic On Twitter vs. Still From Interview

Profile Pic On Twitter vs. Still From Interview

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#29

Such A Beautiful Home

Such A Beautiful Home

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#30

This Can't Be Just "Angles"

This Can't Be Just "Angles"

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EA
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her eyes are at different levels! What on earth happened to the original photo

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#31

Literally A Different Person Every Single Photo

Literally A Different Person Every Single Photo

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EA
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She’s paid all that money on plastic surgery, completely altering her body. And still not happy, otherwise why would you photoshop every picture to oblivion

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#32

Armpit? I Don’t Know Her

Armpit? I Don’t Know Her

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Gilda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't know my armpits were a source of shame now they are coming for earlobes next

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#33

I’m Sorry But His Edited Nose On The Left Literally Looks Like It’s Going To Collapse

I’m Sorry But His Edited Nose On The Left Literally Looks Like It’s Going To Collapse

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#34

I Posted The Left One Yesterday And People Were Not Believing That The Hair Don’t Belongs To Her

I Posted The Left One Yesterday And People Were Not Believing That The Hair Don’t Belongs To Her

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.gas.
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I were not believing that Bored Panda don't thinks grammar check is important.

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Note: this post originally had 61 images. It’s been shortened to the top 34 images based on user votes.