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We all know that most people share an idealized version of themselves on social media, cherry-picking only the best images, thoughts, and experiences to share with the world. But some Instagram celebrities have taken this concept to the extreme, creating Instagram vs reality versions of themselves. 

They bombard their followers with photoshopped images that are so far from reality that they can sow seeds of doubt in some people’s minds, leading them to strive for an unrealistic body image at great cost to their self-esteem and mental health.

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    Those “perfect” celebrity pics you see on Instagram are far from the casual snaps they appear to be

    Women drinking cocktails while posing (left), woman walking on the beach (right)

    Image credits: lowkeykathyyyy

    Hours of make-up, flattering poses and all kinds of editing take place before the “everyday” shot is uploaded onto social media

    woman wearing makeup (left), woman without any makeup (right)

    Image credits: nokia621

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    Instagram vs Reality Trend Comes to the Rescue

    Luckily, some people see the problem in this and are trying to uncover the fakery that goes on behind the scenes of infamous Instagram photos. Previously, we featured Swiss blogger the_truth_is_not_pretty, who posts honest, real images side-by-side with ones that have been given the ‘Instagram treatment.’ This time, Bored Panda has an amusing and quite shocking “Instagram vs Reality” funny video by YouTube star Ethan Klein, who exposes the ugly truth of fake Instagram pictures behind some of the more famous influencers.

    “I can’t get over the difference! Don’t believe what you see on Instagram folks”

    woman wearing pink swimsuit posing (left), woman standing relaxed (right)

    Image credits: ohhithere21

    Delivered with his usual comedic flair, Ethan skewers the obvious trickery that some of these influencers get up to on a regular basis in their Instagram posts. It all goes to show that everything you see online has to be taken with a pinch of salt, and under no circumstances should you compare yourself unfavorably to these people. They aren’t what they want you to think they are!

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    “Excuse me what…”

    woman wearing purple shirt (left), zoom in image of photoshopped waist (right)

    Image credits: runescape_girlfreind

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    “One for the boys out here. Magazines are just an illusion”

    Justin Bieber posing in underwear (left), photoshopped image of Justin Bieber posing in underwear (right)

    Image credits: Instagramreality

    Why Do We Enjoy Reality vs Instagram Photos?

    Away from the buffed and polished images we are presented with daily, it can actually be refreshing to see the human side of the famous people we admire. Social media initially gave us this opportunity to look behind the curtain. Sadly, though, most social media accounts of celebrities are now run by teams of advisors and managers who don’t allow anything to be shown unless it has been carefully vetted first.

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    Justin Bieber posing (left), Justin Bieber covered in pimples (right)

    Image credits: unknown

    Harry with pimples (left), the same image of Harry only photoshopped (right)

    Image credits: unknown

    While we admire, respect, and even idolize some celebrities, setting high expectations for ourselves, we somehow crave reassurance that they are human, too. It helps us to relate to them on a deeper level. Magazines with headlines screaming “Cameron Diaz without Make-Up” or “Beyonce’s Acne Problem” always sell well because they give people a little peek behind the perfectly-curated curtain of an Instagram filter vs reality. Still, perhaps it would be easier if there was less fakery, illusion, and lies in the first place.

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    woman wearing makeup (left), woman without any makeup (right)

    Image credits: unknown

    If you’ve doubted yourself because of the seemingly perfect things you’ve seen on social media, watch the video below to see how Instagram vs reality body images distort our perception of ourselves. Share this article with your friends so that more people can see through the fakery and start appreciating their image!

    Watch the full video below

    Video credits: h3h3Productions

    “A campaign photo for Good American. You’d expect Photoshop, but possibly at a more professional level”

    Khloe posing wearing white clothes (left), arrow showing a photoshopped waist (right)

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    Image credits: Imadadjoke

    woman wearing makeup (left), woman sleeping without makeup (right)

    Image credits: tinysighs

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    Khloe posing with make up (left), Khloe talking in the video (right)

    Image credits: unknown

    “Lips fillers Insta vs Paparazzi”

    Kylie posing for magazine (left), Kylie scrolling her phone (right)

    Image credits: Instagramreality

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    “Coachella, the content farm”

    Image credits: Instagramreality

    “Instagrammers are ruining California’s super bloom”

    woman lying in the flowers (left), destroyed flowers filed (right)

    Image credits: unknown

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    “Kylie Jenner (same day on Instagram vs. on TV)”

    Kylie making selfie (left), Kylie talking in the video (right)

    Image credits: nokia621

    woman posing in front of the car (left), man grabbing womans' breast (right)

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    Image credits: biccabong

    woman posing in the water (left), woman taking photo with a girl (right)

    Image credits: paklowpanda

    “That moment when your eyebrow glitches through your hat”

    a woman with photoshopped eyelashes

    Image credits: Eddy_Wapp_

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    “Body so hot the Colosseum and the fence gets distorted”

    a woman with photoshopped body in front of Colosseum

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    Image credits: RadAway-

    “Melania Trump’s official White House portrait”

    Melania's photoshopped face (left), Melania's face without photoshop (right)

    Image credits: nokia621

    “Calf day was clearly not on the schedule”

    a woman photoshopped her bottom

    Image credits: Hlokty10

    Khloe's face with photoshop (left), Khloe's face without photoshop (right)

    Image credits: mykidzRbad

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    “Wait, are we ashamed of our hand lines now? Nobody told me? I’ve been showing them in public like a total chump!”

    womans' hand without palm lines

    Image credits: unknown

    “Who are these people”

    kardashian jenner family posing

    Image credits: _cockgobblin_

    “Makeup artist highlights what facetune really can do”

    a photoshopped face (left), face without photoshop (right)

    Image credits: savannah098

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    “Instagram vs. Youtube”

    a photoshopped face (left), face without photoshop (right)

    Image credits: LonelyFleur

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    “Make sure your friends are Photoshopping too”

    a photoshopped body (left), body without photoshop (right)

    Image credits: anonymousnosy

    “I’m 29 and until I found this sub I thought the “no pore look” was just excellent makeup I feel silly now, but also relieved”

    Kim's face with photoshop (left), Kim's face without photoshop (right)

    Image credits: lazerbrownies

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    “Instagram picture vs. interview two weeks apart”

    a woman taking a selfie wearing makeup (left), a woman giving an interview (right)

    Image credits: shane-jabroni

    “Her own Instagram vs. Tagged photo… It was untagged real quick”

    a woman posing for the photo (left), woman with ponytail (right)

    Image credits: damnwhatanasshole

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    “Face lost 20 kgs?”

    a woman taking a selfie (left), woman wearing makeup (right)

    Image credits: kyliesuicidie

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    a photoshopped face (left), face without photoshop (right)

    Image credits: unknown user

    a photoshopped body (left), body without photoshop (right)

    Image credits: mdk15

    “Instagram vs. Red carpet”

    Katy Perry photoshopped face (left), Katy Perry face without photoshop (right)

    Image credits: unknown

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    “I always was so jealous of her”

    a girl poising with makeup (left), a girl giving an interview (right)

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    Image credits: unknown


    Social media can often create unrealistic expectations about beauty and perfection. Many celebrities and influencers post curated images that diverge significantly from reality, contributing to distorted body ideals. This is highly similar to scenarios where people observe how different some celebrities appear in unedited pictures compared to their idealized Instagram posts. For more insights into this, you might explore the issue of celebrity photo editing, which contributes significantly to these unrealistic standards.

    Understanding celebrity photo editing sheds light on how these dynamics impact our perception.