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Apart from creating connections, a large part of social media is about gaining validation. It’s why you will likely see a flood of “glow-up” posts on your timelines where people proudly showcase their caterpillar-to-butterfly transformations.
But in recent years, the exact opposite trend has emerged: glow-downs. Instead, people are now showing how they’ve “declined” physically over the years. These people from TikTok took part and shared past photos from when they felt they were in their prime physical self.
If you’re learning about glow-downs for the first time, scrolling through these photos may help you understand why they became such a hit.
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#2
Luke Branwen 6 months ago (edited)
Idk but the "before" looks like a frat d0uche, "after" looks like a chill dude you'd meet at a metal concert
Archanae 5 months ago (edited)
I don't think we should normalize glow downs, no. We can't validate letting oneself go, bc it's inherently linked to depression. It's obvious this dude isn't happy, have you seen his face on pic 2? We need to help and not entitle, imho
Earonn - 4 months ago
You think that duckface in picture one shows happiness? And if your self-validation depends on your looks, you'll be suici*dal when you reach your 50s, dude.
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A dude who likes to drum 6 months ago
Wtf?? How does that relate at all to the context of this?
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The “glow-down” trend began in April 2020 when TikTok user Gabrielle McDonald issued a challenge. She admits to having physically peaked at 18 in high school, and she wanted others to share photos of when they were at their “hottest” and compare them to their current self.
Her video racked up more than 150,000 engagements and mixed reactions from commenters. Some felt the challenge fit them perfectly, while others didn’t appreciate the “negativity.”
#4
Pat Bond 6 months ago (edited)
Ahh, Michael Barrymore, once a king of British quiz shows on ITV. However the former TV presenter, was embroiled in controversy surrounding the death of Stuart Lubbock in 2001. Lubbock was found dead in Barrymore's swimming pool, and Barrymore was later arrested on suspicion of sexual a*****t and murder. While he was released without charge and has always maintained his innocence, the events significantly impacted his career and reputation. Here is a link to his cover of Coolio's (I'll) See you when you get there, it's a gem, It's more Alan Partridge than Alan Partridge!!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_bIaF7P9WA
#5
Brittania Kelli 6 months ago
This is not talked about enough. Cancer treatment absolutely robs you of your looks, I was also 20/21 and remember begging my oncologist to cut down the steroids in my treatment because of the moon face it gave me. I know it shouldn't matter, but I've never felt good about my looks post cancer.
While McDonald’s challenge was likely out of curiosity and to defy the social media status quo, it quickly became viral. Many people, mostly women, shared past and present photos of themselves.
A lot of them were comparisons from when they were in their teens, while some were photos after giving birth and going through different stages of life.
#7
#9
BeesEelsAndPups 6 months ago
So she went from blonde to brunette. I don't think I understand this thread. This woman hasn't changed in appearance at all. Is it because she'll never wear a wedding dress again?
On the surface, the glow-down challenge may signify a negative transformation. In fact, it is a way of showing the reality of daily life, without the makeup and filters.
Naturopathic physician Dr. Heidi Lescanec compares it to cooking videos with neatly prepped ingredients, hiding the chaos behind the scenes.
“The truth? A truly delicious meal, like personal growth, emerges from the disarray: trial and error, adjustments, a pinch of salt here, a squeeze of lemon there, until you taste it and say, Wow, now that’s it,” she wrote.
#11
Winnie the Moo 6 months ago
I spent ten plus years as an ice blonde bleached hair woman; thank God my hair grows back now. Haven’t dyed it for 1,5 years; it’s looking so healthy now
Experts recognize that the glowing-up trend does more harm than good. But for social psychologist Dara Greenwood, media portrayals and Hollywood are to blame for glorifying unattainable beauty standards.
“As long as A-list celebrities and social media influencers who attempt to critique the beauty myth don’t actually disengage from it themselves, young girls and women, and indeed boys and men, will not get the message,” Greenwood wrote.
Now, we’d like to hear from you. What do you think about the glow-down trend? Does it help encourage people to be proud of their natural selves despite the “decline” with age? Or does it carry a negative message? Share your thoughts in the comments!
#21
BeKind&Rewind 6 months ago
If 99% of brides compared themselves on a regular day to themselves on their wedding day, this wouldn't be a thing. Just a way to show off pics of themselves on their best day.
#27
#32
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
Sorry, friend, but your eyes look completely dead and lifeless in the photo of you when you were 11 O_O;
#34
#40
#42
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
I honestly see very little difference here other than the hairstyle...?
#45
#50
Damned_Cat 6 months ago
No, they still have those filters you were playing with at 16...you can look like that anytime you want.
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What do you think ?
Brittania Kelli 6 months ago
So many of these are just silly. Girl, you look the same, just with a little less make-up or filter/retouching. Have a feeling the whole trend is mostly girls fishing for compliments, which is sad in and of itself.
Auntriarch 6 months ago
Most of the "when I was pretty" photos are professionally done, if that's what it takes to make you pretty, then you never were. And yet, none of them are too different from the now photos. Even the woman after cancer treatment looked rather lovely.
nana theater 6 months ago
Wow, this is so stupid! "I don't look like a 12 year old with heavy makeup anymore, so I can never feel pretty again!!" If you feel that way, maybe you should wear a paper bag over your head and shut up.
Calypso poet 6 months ago
This was a terrible post. They all looked beautiful in both pictures.
Pittsburgh rare 6 months ago (edited)
Yeah, some were glow downs and that's part of life, but a good number of these were just fishing for compliments. Literally no difference between the photos. And the people who think that peaked attractiveness as children...get help
BeKind&Rewind 6 months ago
These women are all fishing for compliments and just using this as an excuse to post pics that make them look good.
Kitty 🥀 6 months ago
This whole page is making me mad. “Oh boo hoo, I stopped highlighting my hair and wearing a full-face of makeup, but I still have the perfect body and cheekbones an angel would sin for. I’ll never feel pretty again, even though I have classic features Grace Kelly would approve of.” Boofuckinghoo. The people who aged, dealt with cancer, gained weight, lived through trauma and stress— I get that. It happens and it sucks so bad. But a person aging 5 years and taking a selfie without makeup is just too much for my bullshitometer.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
I'll never be a bobcat again like I was at 4 years old, because now I'm a wolf, no matter how much I try to recreate being a bobcat! XD (I still have that bobcat plushie, actually!) babykota_v...f11fd3.jpg 
manon M 6 months ago
Loin d'être des glow honnêtes dans l'un ou l'autre sens. C'est juste pour attirer l'attention
sfgothgirl 5 months ago
Sorry, this is a thing? This is so stupid. OFC you looked amazing at your wedding/when you were 16/pre pregnancy/when you posted a pic after putting 17 filters on it. Is this supposed to be some brag? Some way to show off a pic? The implications of these are terrible
BeesEelsAndPups 6 months ago
Okay, here's the thing. When you're 17 you look great. When you're 25 you look even better. Then when you're 35 you look amazing. But that's the wall. At that point your metabolism slows down, your skin starts to age. And your hair starts greying. Now notice I didn't say you look worse, because frankly you don't, you just look older. My GF is 47 and she's HOT AF. Does she have grey hair? Yep. Does she have wrinkles? Yes she does. But she's gorgeous. But if you ask her, she'd tell you her peak appearance was when she was [insert younger age here]. We all feel that way, and we're all wrong about it. Most of these pics are really just there to show off their wedding dress, which is fine, you rocked it, but don't let that be your peak.
Spacey Stacey 6 months ago
I don't care for a post where woman publically shame themselves by comparison to photoshopped images. Photoshop isn't pretty to me because it's not real!!!
PeepPeep the duck 6 months ago
Too many people with internal issues and it is sad 😔 imagine comparing yourself barely 5yrs apart in age and so young, like a lot of these posts
Börje Strömming 6 months ago
Their internal issues is to be desperate for attention and compliments. 99% of these are only fishing for it.
Load More Replies...
gvizzle_ 74 4 months ago
this could literally be called "this is me without makeup" and it's wildly disturbing that bored panda is endorsing this kind of toxicity "i can never feel pretty again...." GTFO
Earonn - 4 months ago
20-somethings whining about how much prettier they were at 19? Wow, this IS a depressing list, but not because they are "less pretty" now.... Guys, you can feel "pretty enough" at any age. Don't let an industry that wants your money and a society that wants to turn you into eye candy and nothing else tell you otherwise. I'm overweight and menopause wasn't kind to my hair. I'm 54. But I like my look in the mirror, because there's this light of joy and real interest in the world in my eyes.
PeePeePooPoo 4 months ago
Basically, all of the after photos are so ugly because people are so obviously fishing for compliments. Especially those who will never feel pretty because of how they looked for their wedding. You need to be the center of attention to feel pretty? Time for therapy babe.
Only Me 5 months ago
Looks like mostly still very young people fishing for compliments. And many of them haven't even shared a full photo of their "after". I'm 62 now, and when I look at photos from my 20s, yes I've changed. I was more beautiful then but I still mostly like how I look now. Although - I AM planning a facelift next year! haha
Bertha Madott 6 months ago
I (76F) have severe end stage arthritis in my thumbs both hands. When I was younger, my hands were gorgeous. Long slim fingers etc. One day recently I complained about my “ugly hands” to my DH (m87). He replied “your hands are still beautiful they’re just old now”. This article bothered me. The comments however were brilliant.
GrowingThruConcrete 6 months ago
" here is my favorite photo of myself" would have been good enough
weatherwitch 6 months ago
These are just bloody pathetic people grasping for every ounce of applause they can get. I really appreciate those ones where people were addicts and won the battle photos, that's genuine and an astonishing record of their achievements. These were pathetic ridiculous losers with two or three genuine posts in the whole bunch of c**p. I hated this, I really did. I hoped it would get better but the sheer idiocy of these morons is beyond belief 🤦🏻♀️ Absolute bloody pillocks 🙄
Brittania Kelli 6 months ago
So many of these are just silly. Girl, you look the same, just with a little less make-up or filter/retouching. Have a feeling the whole trend is mostly girls fishing for compliments, which is sad in and of itself.
Auntriarch 6 months ago
Most of the "when I was pretty" photos are professionally done, if that's what it takes to make you pretty, then you never were. And yet, none of them are too different from the now photos. Even the woman after cancer treatment looked rather lovely.
nana theater 6 months ago
Wow, this is so stupid! "I don't look like a 12 year old with heavy makeup anymore, so I can never feel pretty again!!" If you feel that way, maybe you should wear a paper bag over your head and shut up.
Calypso poet 6 months ago
This was a terrible post. They all looked beautiful in both pictures.
Pittsburgh rare 6 months ago (edited)
Yeah, some were glow downs and that's part of life, but a good number of these were just fishing for compliments. Literally no difference between the photos. And the people who think that peaked attractiveness as children...get help
BeKind&Rewind 6 months ago
These women are all fishing for compliments and just using this as an excuse to post pics that make them look good.
Kitty 🥀 6 months ago
This whole page is making me mad. “Oh boo hoo, I stopped highlighting my hair and wearing a full-face of makeup, but I still have the perfect body and cheekbones an angel would sin for. I’ll never feel pretty again, even though I have classic features Grace Kelly would approve of.” Boofuckinghoo. The people who aged, dealt with cancer, gained weight, lived through trauma and stress— I get that. It happens and it sucks so bad. But a person aging 5 years and taking a selfie without makeup is just too much for my bullshitometer.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
I'll never be a bobcat again like I was at 4 years old, because now I'm a wolf, no matter how much I try to recreate being a bobcat! XD (I still have that bobcat plushie, actually!) babykota_v...f11fd3.jpg
manon M 6 months ago
Loin d'être des glow honnêtes dans l'un ou l'autre sens. C'est juste pour attirer l'attention
sfgothgirl 5 months ago
Sorry, this is a thing? This is so stupid. OFC you looked amazing at your wedding/when you were 16/pre pregnancy/when you posted a pic after putting 17 filters on it. Is this supposed to be some brag? Some way to show off a pic? The implications of these are terrible
BeesEelsAndPups 6 months ago
Okay, here's the thing. When you're 17 you look great. When you're 25 you look even better. Then when you're 35 you look amazing. But that's the wall. At that point your metabolism slows down, your skin starts to age. And your hair starts greying. Now notice I didn't say you look worse, because frankly you don't, you just look older. My GF is 47 and she's HOT AF. Does she have grey hair? Yep. Does she have wrinkles? Yes she does. But she's gorgeous. But if you ask her, she'd tell you her peak appearance was when she was [insert younger age here]. We all feel that way, and we're all wrong about it. Most of these pics are really just there to show off their wedding dress, which is fine, you rocked it, but don't let that be your peak.
Spacey Stacey 6 months ago
I don't care for a post where woman publically shame themselves by comparison to photoshopped images. Photoshop isn't pretty to me because it's not real!!!
PeepPeep the duck 6 months ago
Too many people with internal issues and it is sad 😔 imagine comparing yourself barely 5yrs apart in age and so young, like a lot of these posts
Börje Strömming 6 months ago
Their internal issues is to be desperate for attention and compliments. 99% of these are only fishing for it.
Load More Replies... gvizzle_ 74 4 months ago
this could literally be called "this is me without makeup" and it's wildly disturbing that bored panda is endorsing this kind of toxicity "i can never feel pretty again...." GTFO
Earonn - 4 months ago
20-somethings whining about how much prettier they were at 19? Wow, this IS a depressing list, but not because they are "less pretty" now.... Guys, you can feel "pretty enough" at any age. Don't let an industry that wants your money and a society that wants to turn you into eye candy and nothing else tell you otherwise. I'm overweight and menopause wasn't kind to my hair. I'm 54. But I like my look in the mirror, because there's this light of joy and real interest in the world in my eyes.
PeePeePooPoo 4 months ago
Basically, all of the after photos are so ugly because people are so obviously fishing for compliments. Especially those who will never feel pretty because of how they looked for their wedding. You need to be the center of attention to feel pretty? Time for therapy babe.
Only Me 5 months ago
Looks like mostly still very young people fishing for compliments. And many of them haven't even shared a full photo of their "after". I'm 62 now, and when I look at photos from my 20s, yes I've changed. I was more beautiful then but I still mostly like how I look now. Although - I AM planning a facelift next year! haha
Bertha Madott 6 months ago
I (76F) have severe end stage arthritis in my thumbs both hands. When I was younger, my hands were gorgeous. Long slim fingers etc. One day recently I complained about my “ugly hands” to my DH (m87). He replied “your hands are still beautiful they’re just old now”. This article bothered me. The comments however were brilliant.
GrowingThruConcrete 6 months ago
" here is my favorite photo of myself" would have been good enough
weatherwitch 6 months ago
These are just bloody pathetic people grasping for every ounce of applause they can get. I really appreciate those ones where people were addicts and won the battle photos, that's genuine and an astonishing record of their achievements. These were pathetic ridiculous losers with two or three genuine posts in the whole bunch of c**p. I hated this, I really did. I hoped it would get better but the sheer idiocy of these morons is beyond belief 🤦🏻♀️ Absolute bloody pillocks 🙄
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