50 Instagrammers Whose Photos Are So Far From Reality, They Got Shamed For It Online (New Pics)
Welcome to the world of filters where looks are everything, and everything else is nothing. While there are many exceptions, social media is still notorious for breeding and celebrating vanity, from boosting your ego to making others (and yourself included) feel miserable.
But sometimes it’s too much even for Instagram. You see, some people airbrush and edit their pictures beyond the acceptable norm and the result is, well, reality-bending. The subreddit “Instagram Reality” is calling out those instances by sharing pictures of influencers taking editing a step, or rather a mile, too far.
Below we selected some of the most recent posts from the community, so pull your seat closer. And after you’re done, be sure to check out our previous features on Instagram vs reality here, here and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
Why Would Someone Do This? The Original Is Stunning Already
Not Even Judas Was As Treacherous As That Mirror….
In order to understand social media, and the influencers that go above and beyond to stand out, build their audience and establish their brand, we have to look at the other culture that paved the way to influencers as we know them today. And it’s celebrity culture. Both share the insatiable hunger for an idealized image, but also the need to deliver substance and make it interesting for the viewers.
So Bored Panda reached out to Claire Sisco King, the Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Vanderbilt University who happily shared some very interesting insights into the over-the-top world of celebrities and influencers.
I Forgot What She Really Looked Like
Found On A Dating App
She’s The Best. These Are All Photos She Posted Herself Either On Her Story Or Ig Feed! She’s Beautiful, Confident And Silly
I fricken love Doja cat so much. She’s so gorgeous and witty and talented
“Celebrity culture has been a significant part of popular media in the United States since the early 20th century. Its origins can be traced in large part to the Hollywood star system,” King told us. “By the 1920s, film studios had developed a system for crafting star images—from the stars’ names to how they dressed to the types of film roles they played. Studios relied on their own promotional departments as well as fan magazines to create these images and make them familiar to audiences, promoting fan attachment to the stars,” she explained.
Don’t Be Afraid To Age Folks
The Power Of Filters - It Doesn’t Always Have To Be That Noticeable
Flexxing On Some Totally Real Muscles
It turns out that for decades, “most of this publicity remained largely positive because it was heavily controlled by the film studios, offering highly calculated views of celebrities’ personalities and private lives.”
But all changed with the advent of tabloids by the mid-twentieth century, including radio shows and magazines, King said. That’s when the attention to gossip and the more salacious aspects of celebrities’ personal lives increased. “Often this coverage was out of celebrity control; but, at the same time, celebrity has become dependent on the gossip industry because it drives audience interest and fascination,” the professor said.
Another One
Shame On The News Outlet Who Photoshopped The Left Picture
Found This One While Browsing A Dating App
Thanks to reality television and the internet, in the beginning of the early 2000s, expectations about access to celebrities dramatically increased. King explained: “Reality television fostered the idea that anyone could become famous by ‘playing themselves,’ and there was the corollary expectation that celebrities should engage with the genre to give audiences an idea of who they ‘really are.’”
His Jawline Is Definitely 100% Real, No Editing
Imagine Your Surprise When You See Her For The First Time Without All That Makeup, Filters And Editing
She Claims To Not Edit Her Photos
Meanwhile, “the development of digital media and the internet meant that there were endless opportunities for audiences to seek information about celebrities, which meant that media companies also felt obligations to generate more and more content about them.” King argues that the era saw the proliferation of websites and blogs devoted to celebrity fandom and/or gossip.
At First The Terrifying Bird Feet Got Me But The Longer You Stare...the Worse It Gets
Her Poor Friend
How Is This Even Legal?
Applies to all of them, but… is this what they want us to see or what they want to see?
The development of social media really amplified all of these expectations about access to and intimacy with celebrities. “Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat give audiences the sense that they can see into celebrities’ private lives and get 'behind the scenes' access to them. Even though the glimpses audiences see are highly curated and carefully crafted, they suggest that fans can get an 'authentic' idea of who celebrities are,” King explained.
Same Day. Insta vs. Pap Picture
In all seriousness, do people really think those lips are pretty? Or desirable? I find them disgusting and I really, really wouldn't want to kiss her or anyone with lips like that, even if they were the god of orgasmic kissing or whatever. Or the last person on earth. EDIT: i was referring to filler lips, not natural lips. Natural lips are sexy. Filler lips, when you can clearly see that they do not belong on a face, are not. Sorry if anyone felt offended, I was referring strictly to the lips in the picture, filler lips.
At Least She's Self Aware...?
When You Have A Friend Who Edits The Whole Group
Is It Just Me Or Does His Head Look Way Too Small?
She Got Called Out For Using Heavy Filters And Her Response Was Interesting
I agree with her. And it's a trend going on showing how you look with filters vs without.
She Adamantly Denies Filtering Her Pics On Every Post
She Uses The Teen Filter So Much, She Has Convinced Herself That She Looks Like This
Found This One! — He Claims To Be 31 Years Old, Flashes Fake Watches And Cars He Doesn’t Own
Posted As Part Of A Massive Clothing Campaign…how Could Such A Big Label Not Have Enough Money For Decent Editing? She Has Slender Man Fingers!
She Is 81 Guys ... I Don't Know What To Say
Found In The Wild - When You Forget To Edit Your Husband
Rip Her Poor Hips..must Have Fallen Off In Her Tagged Photo
This is just so absurd to me, having grown up in a society in which those hips would have been shamed for being fat. Maybe 15 years ago. Now people are purposely trying to look that way. It's all so silly when the trend goes away and another begins. About our bodies! Just accept the body your in, skinny, thick, whatever. Your own body will go in and out of style throughout your lifetime. Stop trying to make it fit a trend.
I Mean
Why do people keep having plastic surgery when it just seems to make you look SO. MUCH. WORSE. ?
Instagram vs. Public Video
A Local Club Owner.
Feed vs. Press Photo
Spent Too Much Time On The Faces, Forgot About The Rest
Claims She Doesn’t Want Women To Feel Bad About Their Postpartum Bodies If They Haven’t ‘Bounced Back’ Like Her
Both Are Instagram Posts
A Woman From The Danish Equivalent To Teen Mom, She's Not A Teen Anymore
She’s Already Petite But They Shrank Her Even More While Forgetting Her Forearms
Is that her face palming the editing on her own body? They made her look like a child!
When You Can't Control The Photoshop
This Gal Is Acting As If We Don’t Know What She Actually Looks Like
I think the lesson to be learned from this trend is that these people, for whatever reason, feel like they are not ok as they are, and that is very sad and disturbing, as much as it is scary. It, in my opinion at least, is as destructive as an eating disorder. We are all who we are, and we are all important and beautiful and worthy just by being ourselves.
Posts vs. Tagged
Maternity Photoshoot vs. Youtube Video 4 Weeks Later
They’re Not Even Trying To Hide It Anymore. She Blurred Her Unedited Reflection
What She Posts On Ig vs. What The Paparazzi Took
How To Recognize Body Filters In Videos
Completely Unrecognizable!
I don't think left pic is supposed to be her? If it is it's bad editing. Anyway she looks fine to the right.
Her Caption Says: ‘I Actually Don’t Have Foundation On, Only Concealer And Everything Else’ But Am I Wrong If I Only See A Heavily Filtered Pic?
Instagram vs. Tagged Photos
Some Unfiltered/Unedited Photos From The Met Gala Versus Their Ig Equivalents Or Most Recently Posted Photos
Slender Woman, Fooling Her Million+ Followers With These Weird Edits And Extreme Waist Tuning
The Reality Is Already Beautiful So This Heavy Editing Is Not It
This Guy Hit Me Up. The Longer You Look, The More Warps You Find. It’s Like Easter Eggs!
Insta Pic vs. Tagged Insta Pic
I Am Inclined To Say Her Face Does Not Look Like This
At least she isn’t “slimming her body” and accepting herself or maybe she forgot the body idk but whatever yk what I mean
F**k Noses Am I Right
Not Sure If It’s Photoshop But The Light Is Kinda Bent In The Windows Reflection. Could Be Wrong
What She Posted vs. Natural/From A Video. Shes Gorgeous W/O Editing Imo
Girl…
"He Saw How I Look On Social Media" / "Everybody Tells Me I'm The Same, Or Even Better Irl"
Obviously Heavy Filters In The Second Photo But Yikessss
Instagram vs. Public Video
Group Picture On Someone Else's Profile vs. Her Picture
I Finally Found One On My Instagram Too
Sure, Jan
Skin Is Too Smooth, Too Matte, Too Lifeless. It's A Heavy Filter (Screenshots From Video). She Doesn't Need It
What She Posts On Her Instagram vs. The Actual Pictures
“For Everybody”
I think the only difference is the angle, the camera, and the lighting.
With The Met Gala Today, Reminder That Makeup Can Look Very Different In Real Life.
When Only Your Skin Is Perfect
Girl Posts Photo With Filter (Left) And Without (Right) After People Commenting Her Eyes Look Unnatural
I Just Can’t Believe It.
Y'all Better Not Have Any Pores
I Wouldn’t Have Noticed If People Didn’t Point It Out In The Replies
BACK FAT IS OKAY YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A STICK. IF YOU WERE A STICK YOUD BE VERY MUCH COLD! but low key tho, I love the guys expression it’s funni
I’m Sorry But What Is This
Yt Video vs. Instagram Post
Found One In The Wild
First One Is The Picture He Posted, Second Was Posted By Her. Look At Differences In Butt And Stomach (Also Girl Behind)
I kept staring at the red girl to see if she shrunk her butt before I realized they meant the "ignite" thing.
An Actress From My Country Advertising For A Natural Shampoo
Looks Like One Of Those Interior Design Renders
Left Side Is The Picture This Youtuber Used For The Thumbnail, Right Is A Screenshot Of The Actual Video
Instagram vs. Tagged Photos
No, This Is What A Heavy Filter Looks Like. Aging Is Natural.
Found On Ed Twitter, All The Comments Are Girls Saying They’ll Skip Dinner To Look Like This...
Ah Yes, A Totally Realistic Waistline
The Interviewer Seems Quite Airbrushed Compared To The Person Being Interviewed
How does one airbrush television? Interviewer has a better makeup artist who knows how to do TV makeup.
These Hips Lie.
Original Photos vs. What She Posted. Crazy To Actually See The Raw Photos.
Idk. This looks like it could just be the lighting and angle that are different. Is there something else I'm not seeing?
Her Caption: “Fresh Face 4 Spring” 🙄
Fresh indeed, probably within the last 15 seconds of posting I would guess. The inks still drying on the edit dont touch it.
And I’m Supposed To Believe She’s Real?
Still Shots From Her New Movie vs. Her In Real Life. She’s 57
Who Needs A Functioning Jaw And Throat When You Can Have Thick Hair?
Ig vs. Semi-Reality: Nothing Wrong With A Little Under Eye
Ok so guys be liking this s**t right? And girls too but then they say they like no makeup and natural looks. I mean I get the fantasy but also like wtf? No one likes reality. That’s probably why I’m on here and not doing my work lmao ANYWAY...
Highlighted Article On A News Website. Surely The Fact That You "Look This Good" Has Nothing To Do With Filters, Right?
Why Did She Facetune Her Tongue? 😭
This woman FaceTunes everything dude. Down to her fucken toenails. This is actually a very mild photoshop job compared to 99% of her IG
The unedited ones are actually better than the edited ones. I prefer natural beauty. I don't like makeup, so I don't wear it. I've been told I need to wear makeup, because I'm ugly and not a real woman without it. However, I notice these people are pretty much all misogynistic men who believe that women should always strive to please men, including looking aesthetically pleasing to them. These people also condemn me for not liking to shave and having body hair, think I should obsess over my weight and appearance, and say my acne makes me ugly, and that I should be obsessed with getting rid of it.
I am ugly, so f*****g what. Can't wear makeup, even hypoallergenic burns after awhile. Can't wear jewelry, even real gold. So ya' get what ya' get. Tell people who don't like you as is..right back at you, a*****e.
Load More Replies...
Based on the true images, tge problem isn't their skin or so, jt's that theur smiles are so unnatural. That seems to point at deeper problems, if many of tgem didn't look so pained they would look much prettier
Whenever I see these, it just makes me sad. Why can't people just love their natural selves? I know its difficult, I struggled for year with my own body image. I've since learned to love myself exactly as I am today. Also, I understand wanting to put the best version of yourself out there, but when the best version of yourself isn't anywhere near your authentic self, it defeats the purpose.
I know there’s a pressure to ‘look your best’ and that encourages people to photoshop or otherwise edit images but I find myself hoping that they find the inner peace and confidence to be themselves and comfortable in their own skin. You are you, that makes you unique and amazing, yes dye your hair, pluck your eyebrows, use makeup whatever floats your boat but be true to yourself and stay beautiful, don’t allow society or your peers force you to digitally enhance you, it ends up losing your energy and your unique look that’s attached to who you are. I love people, they all have a story to tell, they all have a place to be and a claim for beauty, I want you to share that not some pixelated version of you. You are amazing and valuable, hold onto that ❤️❤️
…In what world exactly are peoples faces as smooth as these pictures are making them out to be…? they literally look like glass…
I quit wearing makeup years ago, maybe a little eyebrow filler and powder once in a while. One nice thing about getting older is that you (normally) stop giving a sh*t about other people's opinions of your looks.
Feels like these people don’t hear enough about how beautiful they are in real life. Sad to mention, but people make them fake themselves by criticizing their looks, and people are criticizing them for faking their looks. Feels like a vicious cycle(( Both does no good but damages already unhealthy psychological state of an individual. Heh, I guess the only remedy is to be kind to others and compliment them on their features, and I mean not Kim Kardashian, but the very people around us right now)
Depressing. A huge part of the problem where no one (including me, I'll admit) has any self esteem.
I have self esteem. Comes from knowing what battles I've fought, what I still fight, but I'm going strong in a way some people, back in the day, ever thought I good. People, please, think about what's good in you. Not what other people think. And if you can't find something in yourself that you find good, get some help. And not from the plastic surgeon.
Load More Replies...
Every time I see these kind of posts I have to think about Henry VIII and his 4th wife, Anna of Cleve. Her portrait was painted by the famous painter Holbein, and apparently he painted her from the best possible angle, because Henry chose her after seeing this portrait. Later, when he met her face to face, he was said to be very disappointed and Master Holbein was said to suffer repercussions because of his "deceiving" the king. Anyway, these were my thoughts;)
He might have painted her to look better than in person, but I think anyone would find a portrait different from the actual person, if they had never met that person. Holbein didn't suffer repercussions actually. He was in favour until his death.
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I hope there comes a day where people are allowed to just look like people and be people-shaped. My god.
As a person battling BDD, I know various people that edit their photos and I've gotten pretty good at spotting them. I could go on and on about how it effects my day to day life. It's crazy how the brain can literally warp pictures in your eye and makes you unable to see your true self. It's hard to find proper peace from it, but I hope everyone does one day. Beauty/fitness culture does not help, but you gotta do the work in therapy and make peace with yourself. I haven't found it yet, but I think I'm getting there?
Good on you. Keep working. Sometimes it takes baby steps, but they add up.
Load More Replies... 
A coworker got one, and man, she did look like a movie star. Very classy looking actually, not trashy and cliche like some of the overdone stuff you see now days where everyone tries to get the same Barbie doll look. I just looked, and Glamor Shots is still around.
Load More Replies... Most of these go beyond vanity and are firmly in mental illness territory.
Load More Replies... The people who stalk these people to “expose“ them are no less in need of therapy than them.
You're absolutely right. It's really sad on both ends of this spectrum here..
Load More Replies...
To be fair, around 30% look like it could just have been makeup, good lighting, and a pose
Agreed, lighting makes a big difference as does make up and pose.
Load More Replies...
I have yet to post a single pic to my Instagram account. If and when I ever do, it won't be a pic of me, Photoshopped or otherwise.
Society - whatever that is - creates unrealistic expectations and women often fall into that trap. I've never worn makeup. Still have good skin. If people don't like the way I look, that's their problem, not mine. I don't want to look plastic. I want to look like me. More people need to look to themselves to find out what's lacking. There's nothing wrong with looking your age, whatever that means. I like to see some character in someone's face. It tells me something about them. Ugley is the eye of the beholder. So is beauty.
Unedited ones are almost always better, also I think a lot of these (especially the top ones) are satire.
I wish no one would talk about/post/follow/ or give any of these people a minute of fame. Maybe then they'd STOP!!!
Why wouldn't you just crop OUT the mirror in the picture if they're clearly aware of it in the image to go to the point of blurring the face?? That is...that is just such an odd choice. Hmm...
The thing is that how do these people even think that these look believable. Like I’m not saying that you should edit your photos but if you’re going to then why can’t you try to at least make it believable?
The unedited ones are actually better than the edited ones. I prefer natural beauty. I don't like makeup, so I don't wear it. I've been told I need to wear makeup, because I'm ugly and not a real woman without it. However, I notice these people are pretty much all misogynistic men who believe that women should always strive to please men, including looking aesthetically pleasing to them. These people also condemn me for not liking to shave and having body hair, think I should obsess over my weight and appearance, and say my acne makes me ugly, and that I should be obsessed with getting rid of it.
I am ugly, so f*****g what. Can't wear makeup, even hypoallergenic burns after awhile. Can't wear jewelry, even real gold. So ya' get what ya' get. Tell people who don't like you as is..right back at you, a*****e.
Load More Replies... Based on the true images, tge problem isn't their skin or so, jt's that theur smiles are so unnatural. That seems to point at deeper problems, if many of tgem didn't look so pained they would look much prettier
Whenever I see these, it just makes me sad. Why can't people just love their natural selves? I know its difficult, I struggled for year with my own body image. I've since learned to love myself exactly as I am today. Also, I understand wanting to put the best version of yourself out there, but when the best version of yourself isn't anywhere near your authentic self, it defeats the purpose.
I know there’s a pressure to ‘look your best’ and that encourages people to photoshop or otherwise edit images but I find myself hoping that they find the inner peace and confidence to be themselves and comfortable in their own skin. You are you, that makes you unique and amazing, yes dye your hair, pluck your eyebrows, use makeup whatever floats your boat but be true to yourself and stay beautiful, don’t allow society or your peers force you to digitally enhance you, it ends up losing your energy and your unique look that’s attached to who you are. I love people, they all have a story to tell, they all have a place to be and a claim for beauty, I want you to share that not some pixelated version of you. You are amazing and valuable, hold onto that ❤️❤️
…In what world exactly are peoples faces as smooth as these pictures are making them out to be…? they literally look like glass…
I quit wearing makeup years ago, maybe a little eyebrow filler and powder once in a while. One nice thing about getting older is that you (normally) stop giving a sh*t about other people's opinions of your looks.
Feels like these people don’t hear enough about how beautiful they are in real life. Sad to mention, but people make them fake themselves by criticizing their looks, and people are criticizing them for faking their looks. Feels like a vicious cycle(( Both does no good but damages already unhealthy psychological state of an individual. Heh, I guess the only remedy is to be kind to others and compliment them on their features, and I mean not Kim Kardashian, but the very people around us right now)
Depressing. A huge part of the problem where no one (including me, I'll admit) has any self esteem.
I have self esteem. Comes from knowing what battles I've fought, what I still fight, but I'm going strong in a way some people, back in the day, ever thought I good. People, please, think about what's good in you. Not what other people think. And if you can't find something in yourself that you find good, get some help. And not from the plastic surgeon.
Load More Replies... Every time I see these kind of posts I have to think about Henry VIII and his 4th wife, Anna of Cleve. Her portrait was painted by the famous painter Holbein, and apparently he painted her from the best possible angle, because Henry chose her after seeing this portrait. Later, when he met her face to face, he was said to be very disappointed and Master Holbein was said to suffer repercussions because of his "deceiving" the king. Anyway, these were my thoughts;)
He might have painted her to look better than in person, but I think anyone would find a portrait different from the actual person, if they had never met that person. Holbein didn't suffer repercussions actually. He was in favour until his death.
Load More Replies... I hope there comes a day where people are allowed to just look like people and be people-shaped. My god.
As a person battling BDD, I know various people that edit their photos and I've gotten pretty good at spotting them. I could go on and on about how it effects my day to day life. It's crazy how the brain can literally warp pictures in your eye and makes you unable to see your true self. It's hard to find proper peace from it, but I hope everyone does one day. Beauty/fitness culture does not help, but you gotta do the work in therapy and make peace with yourself. I haven't found it yet, but I think I'm getting there?
Good on you. Keep working. Sometimes it takes baby steps, but they add up.
Load More Replies... A coworker got one, and man, she did look like a movie star. Very classy looking actually, not trashy and cliche like some of the overdone stuff you see now days where everyone tries to get the same Barbie doll look. I just looked, and Glamor Shots is still around.
Load More Replies... Most of these go beyond vanity and are firmly in mental illness territory.
Load More Replies... The people who stalk these people to “expose“ them are no less in need of therapy than them.
You're absolutely right. It's really sad on both ends of this spectrum here..
Load More Replies... To be fair, around 30% look like it could just have been makeup, good lighting, and a pose
Agreed, lighting makes a big difference as does make up and pose.
Load More Replies... I have yet to post a single pic to my Instagram account. If and when I ever do, it won't be a pic of me, Photoshopped or otherwise.
Society - whatever that is - creates unrealistic expectations and women often fall into that trap. I've never worn makeup. Still have good skin. If people don't like the way I look, that's their problem, not mine. I don't want to look plastic. I want to look like me. More people need to look to themselves to find out what's lacking. There's nothing wrong with looking your age, whatever that means. I like to see some character in someone's face. It tells me something about them. Ugley is the eye of the beholder. So is beauty.
Unedited ones are almost always better, also I think a lot of these (especially the top ones) are satire.
I wish no one would talk about/post/follow/ or give any of these people a minute of fame. Maybe then they'd STOP!!!
Why wouldn't you just crop OUT the mirror in the picture if they're clearly aware of it in the image to go to the point of blurring the face?? That is...that is just such an odd choice. Hmm...
The thing is that how do these people even think that these look believable. Like I’m not saying that you should edit your photos but if you’re going to then why can’t you try to at least make it believable?
