‘Real Beauty’: 45 Photos Shared On The ‘Instagram Vs. Reality’ Group That Are A Contrast To Heavily Photoshopped Pics
InterviewThe internet makes even the best of us temporarily cynical, but it’s also full of wholesome, soul-healing content to set the record straight. Even though social media can feel like it’s full to the brim of fakeness, bragging, and photo-editing, from time to time, people share such genuine photos of themselves, it’s like a breath of fresh air.
Many of you Pandas know r/Instagramreality, a subreddit with over a million members, as a place that calls out Instagrammers and influencers who photoshop their pics to hell and back. However, the subreddit has so-called ‘Sanity Sundays’ when redditors are encouraged to post unedited images of what real beauty looks like. What follows is a collection of these genuine posts.
After you upvote your favorite photos, be sure to scroll down to have a read what the head moderator of the subreddit had to say to Bored Panda. When you're done with this list, you can take a look at the dark side of heavy photo-editing in our previous articles about r/Instagramreality here, here, and here.
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She’s Firing Back
Found On Athletic Clothing Brand. It’s So Refreshing To See The Representation
Awesome! let people see how folks their age would look like in advertised clothes. All ages. I don't want to see only how skinny 15yo would look in that.
Saw These Two Beautiful Women Aging Gracefully! Nice To See Reality Every Once In Awhile
Love This Model
First Time I’ve Seen A Plus Size Model That Isn’t Hourglass And “Thicc.” Not To Mention Keeping The Stretch Marks In!
I've Been Waiting For Sunday, It's Time For More Honesty Online
Real Hands Without Photoshop - Jewelry On Older Women
To The People On My Last Post Here That Said Cellulite Shouldn’t Be On Strong Legs
I Wish I Saw Models Like This When I Was Younger And Felt The Pressure To Have Hairless Arms
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
The Power Of Make-Up
This Insta-Girl Posts Pics On Both ”good” And ”bad” Days And Gives No F**k About It. I Love It
It’s Not Much, But I Saw This When Browsing One Of The Biggest Online Stores. First Thought It Was A Part Of The Earring But It’s A Hearing Device. The Little Things Matter!
As kids, I saw some kids wore bright, colourful hearing aids, while others wore hearing aids the colour of their hair to "hide" it. It's nice when we can be proud of deafness, but at the same time, people can be a bit patronising.
As A Person With A Lower Belly Area That Sticks Out All The Time, It's Really Refreshing To See My Body Shape On An Ad For Tights/Skirts!
How Refreshing To Know You Don’t Have To Have A Bubble Butt
I have a butt like this but with a bloating tummy on the front. I often shop man's jeans. They have pockets! ps I look smashing :)
Found This Model With Normal Teeth (Not Everyone Has Perfectly Aligned Teeth) In A Clothing Brand App
If you look at all the really famous supermodels, they all had a 'flaw' that wouldn't be left uncorrected today. Sometimes idiosyncrasies are beautiful!
I Loved This Model I Found While Bikini Shopping!
Omg she has the same scars as me. Wow. I hide my stomach all the time, this is powerful. Really, I can't stop looking, I feel like I'm seeing my tummy inserted into a normal pic it's very odd. I still don't know if I'll ever have her confidence but I want to, a lot
She Never Edits Her Body And She Looks Amazing
The Woman In The Picture Often Posts About How People Use Angles To Appear Skinnier And To Hide Cellulite/Skin Blemishes - Found On Her Instagram
It's Nice Seeing Celebrities Have Photoshoots With Minimal Filters That Won't Blur Their Skin Texture. I Saw This And She Looks Like Her Actual Age!
agree, but she might look like that in real life too, I'm sure she's had some work done (non-surgical at least) as have all the celebrities?
Load More Replies...I saw Marvels Eternals posters on Instagram and they all have pores and skin texture and it makes the whole picture sharper and pop more, kind of like this one.
I'm 37, but people always assume I'm somewhere between 24 - 27. My best friend's 42 and people always assume she's mid 30s. Another friend has always been judged to be 10 years older than she really is. Some people just age differently. (And no, I have not had surgery 😉).
Ohhh didn't like Ratchet but I think she is fine, don't know here from anything else.
American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Nip/Tuck, bunch of movies...
Load More Replies..."HEELLPP! HE'S ESCAPING! THE KILLER IS ESCAPING! HELP MEEE!!!"
I literally just watched a video where she's explaining how she has no idea what TikTok is 🤣
Load More Replies...Don’t Be Fooled By Fake “Before & After” Posts
A Scandinavian Online Store Has Found A True Natural Beauty To Model For Them
Realest Ig Post Ever
Normalize Having Organs
I don't think the belly is just organs. She has some fat, and that's what we should normalise. I mean... It is literally normal. She looks great
This Is The First Time I've Seen A Jewelry Page That Doesn't Edit Out Knuckle Hair!
Finally A Makeup Brand Showing The Product On A Model With Acne And No Airbrushing On The Finished Pic!
Everyday People Looking Beautiful And So Confident!
Really like this one. She looks like a super cool person to hang out with.
A Close-Up Of Normal, Textured Skin. This Made Me Happy To See
Love Her. Love The Unapologetic Real Photo
Makeup Company Uses Model With Real-Life Skin
Unafraid To Post Unedited Or Smoothed Red Carpet Photos. Love Her So Much
Just An Outdoor Clothing Company Using A Photo Of A Woman With A Real Stomach
Mango - Refreshing To See Older Models With No Photoshop
Absolutely Stunning
Online Retailer Giving Us An Actually Average Male Body Is
Refreshing To See An Unedited Derrière
Sanity Sunday - She Never Hides Her Flaws, And She Looks Flawlessly Beautiful In Her Own Confidence
I once met a woman, a friend of a friend, and after we'd been chatting at lunch for a while, and I happened to look down and saw extensive burn scars on her legs. She was wearing shorts, not covering the scars, and I decided that the fact that she was brave to have lived through something horrific and that she wasn't ashamed of the scars made her a way cool person!
Rihanna Did That
Our Bodies Change Over The Years, I Like How She Shows It
Normal Eyebrow Hair. Colour Of The Eyeshadow Isnt Enhanced And The Eye Has Normal Skin Creases
I really hate the eyebrow fashion these days. The same shape, too dark/too thick.
It's So Refreshing To See Unedited Stretchmarks In Fashion Posts
This Fitness Model Keepin It Real
Just Browsing Online For Dresses And Very Happy To See This Real Body With Real Skin Texture On A Major High Street Retailer’s Website
Popular Make Up Brand Posting Swatches On A Person With Body Hair!
Had To Cover Up The Username, But Love This
The "reality" is just as staged as the Instagram, accentuating her tummy by having tight leggings underneath, pushing it up
Showing Us Her Healthy Body, Without Editing, And Being Proud To Wear Her Stretch Marks
This Beautiful Makeup Artist I Found On Insta That Doesn't Shop Out Her Blemishes Or Skin Texture
Woman Shows How Easy It Is To Transform Into An “Influencer” With Photoshop. Not Everyone You See Genuinely Looks Like The Picture On The Right
She Regularly Posts Side By Side Photos Like This, And It’s So Refreshing
There was a post about her on BP a year or so ago and it was VERY, VERY forced.
These pictures are prime examples of the Japanese "wabi sabi" philosophy. Imperfection is perfection.
Instagram just seem to be people setting unrealistic beauty expectations then challenging unrealistic beauty expectations on a never ending cycle
And the outrage needs to be directed at these Instagramers, celebrities included, and not at the public who often get blamed for encouraging these expectations.
Load More Replies...Aging gracefully means aging naturally. Some people have been conditioned to believe that the 'flaws' [character] that develop as we age somehow reduces their worth as a human compared to younger people. This is the sort of thinking that results in plastic surgery that only makes people look like they've been cut up, and not actually look younger. Women seem to face much more of this pressure than men. I have no idea why that is from an anthropological standpoint.
Load More Replies...everyone keeps complaining either that pointing out "flaws" is making the problem worse, or that these models/people aren't beautiful, or that saying "wow she's so pretty!" is just doing it to be nice, and i think that's terrible! most everyone is beautiful, except for those who judge others harshly and unkindly :(
Absolutely. When you expand your idea of what beauty is, you’re able to appreciate that it is nothing to do with the ideal of flawlessness.
Load More Replies...I don't get this "omg,so stunning,so beautiful" just because someone shows their flaws.Don't get me wrong,it is good when people aren't overly obsessed with their pictures but just because it isn't shopped,it isn't automatically beautiful.Not everyone who appears natural is beautiful.You don't need to shout it every 14 seconds.
Sometimes it are"flaws" who make someone pretty or unique. Take this away and the person becomes uninteresting or dull to look at. I think for the kids is very important to show reality .
Load More Replies...Body positivity is great, but I personally feel that highlighting examples of it kind of defeats the purpose.
I’d like more of „I don’t have to be beautiful to be adored, desired, loved, respected etc.“ - bod positivity isn’t claiming every body is beautiful. It’s knowing every body is worthy. Every body is home to a fellow human. With their anguish and their flaws. We need to help and love each other.
Load More Replies...I feel so good when I see this! There is so much damage done by editing to perfection on social media. Flaws are real and courage to be authentic is gorgeous.
yes, I agree. But over made-up bad complexions are not edifying. They are simply ugly on ugly -- despite the possibly good face underneath it all.
Load More Replies...So refreshing. For more reality in the internet!!!! I think stretch marks look so cool, kinda like natural tigress tatoos. 😁
Nup, Stresch marks ar simplu a sign of bad skin. (
Load More Replies...Kinda seems like more "look at me" bs. Anyone who has been on the internet for more that 4 minutes knows Instagram does not represent reality - do we really need to keep talking about it?
Young people are a product of their environment. If they are constantly bombarded by images of what they perceive to be goals for them to achieve (no matter how unattainable), they lose sight of the fact that the internet does not represent reality.
Load More Replies...Ok. I get it. Expectations. But.... I don't think showing obese people 'being natural' is good for your health. Why do we encourage this? Also, if I buy a Vogue magazine, I WANT to see pretty clothes on pretty models. This new trend to show obese people in clothings ads on Amazon is not what I want to look at. I'm not talking about natural fit bodies. I'm talking about those who are endangering their health by being obese.
Beauty is a "manufactured" idea. There will always be pressure on someone, somewhere to conform to someone else's expectations. Where ever conformity exists you can be sure it will generate revenue. Some men and women will be victimized by it and some will profit by it. Being at peace with yourself requires a thick skin but it can be done.
I have to say, nothing helps my self-confidence and self-image more than a bunch of models pointing out their "one flaw" and going through them like a check list. Yep, got that. Oh, yeah, acne scarring, check. Color changes and stretch marks, yup. Cellulite, absolutely. Belly, for sure. Voluminous body hair, yup. Wrinkles, sure, sure. Oh, and I can definitely think of some things they missed, but who's counting? Don't get me wrong, life has been fine, but it's hard to look at all of these and not think "humble-brag much?"
I'm skinny and tall, always was. Also have 3 kids and the amount of stick I get from people for having a flat tummy etc. I actually had a condition on two of my pregnancies that increased my metabolism on top of it so it's hard to keep weight on. I hover around the 100l-110b mark. I'm so sick of comments and people asking if I exercise a lot, diet etc. I am the laziest glutton ever. Growing up I was always told how I should go into modelling etc. It made me very insecure as I felt I was only worth what I looked. My appearance, height etc was the first thing pointed out. It's sad we put so much emphasis on appearance rather than ability.
I think I see what you mean. But it's still good to see them, and have the conversation
Load More Replies...These pictures are prime examples of the Japanese "wabi sabi" philosophy. Imperfection is perfection.
Instagram just seem to be people setting unrealistic beauty expectations then challenging unrealistic beauty expectations on a never ending cycle
And the outrage needs to be directed at these Instagramers, celebrities included, and not at the public who often get blamed for encouraging these expectations.
Load More Replies...Aging gracefully means aging naturally. Some people have been conditioned to believe that the 'flaws' [character] that develop as we age somehow reduces their worth as a human compared to younger people. This is the sort of thinking that results in plastic surgery that only makes people look like they've been cut up, and not actually look younger. Women seem to face much more of this pressure than men. I have no idea why that is from an anthropological standpoint.
Load More Replies...everyone keeps complaining either that pointing out "flaws" is making the problem worse, or that these models/people aren't beautiful, or that saying "wow she's so pretty!" is just doing it to be nice, and i think that's terrible! most everyone is beautiful, except for those who judge others harshly and unkindly :(
Absolutely. When you expand your idea of what beauty is, you’re able to appreciate that it is nothing to do with the ideal of flawlessness.
Load More Replies...I don't get this "omg,so stunning,so beautiful" just because someone shows their flaws.Don't get me wrong,it is good when people aren't overly obsessed with their pictures but just because it isn't shopped,it isn't automatically beautiful.Not everyone who appears natural is beautiful.You don't need to shout it every 14 seconds.
Sometimes it are"flaws" who make someone pretty or unique. Take this away and the person becomes uninteresting or dull to look at. I think for the kids is very important to show reality .
Load More Replies...Body positivity is great, but I personally feel that highlighting examples of it kind of defeats the purpose.
I’d like more of „I don’t have to be beautiful to be adored, desired, loved, respected etc.“ - bod positivity isn’t claiming every body is beautiful. It’s knowing every body is worthy. Every body is home to a fellow human. With their anguish and their flaws. We need to help and love each other.
Load More Replies...I feel so good when I see this! There is so much damage done by editing to perfection on social media. Flaws are real and courage to be authentic is gorgeous.
yes, I agree. But over made-up bad complexions are not edifying. They are simply ugly on ugly -- despite the possibly good face underneath it all.
Load More Replies...So refreshing. For more reality in the internet!!!! I think stretch marks look so cool, kinda like natural tigress tatoos. 😁
Nup, Stresch marks ar simplu a sign of bad skin. (
Load More Replies...Kinda seems like more "look at me" bs. Anyone who has been on the internet for more that 4 minutes knows Instagram does not represent reality - do we really need to keep talking about it?
Young people are a product of their environment. If they are constantly bombarded by images of what they perceive to be goals for them to achieve (no matter how unattainable), they lose sight of the fact that the internet does not represent reality.
Load More Replies...Ok. I get it. Expectations. But.... I don't think showing obese people 'being natural' is good for your health. Why do we encourage this? Also, if I buy a Vogue magazine, I WANT to see pretty clothes on pretty models. This new trend to show obese people in clothings ads on Amazon is not what I want to look at. I'm not talking about natural fit bodies. I'm talking about those who are endangering their health by being obese.
Beauty is a "manufactured" idea. There will always be pressure on someone, somewhere to conform to someone else's expectations. Where ever conformity exists you can be sure it will generate revenue. Some men and women will be victimized by it and some will profit by it. Being at peace with yourself requires a thick skin but it can be done.
I have to say, nothing helps my self-confidence and self-image more than a bunch of models pointing out their "one flaw" and going through them like a check list. Yep, got that. Oh, yeah, acne scarring, check. Color changes and stretch marks, yup. Cellulite, absolutely. Belly, for sure. Voluminous body hair, yup. Wrinkles, sure, sure. Oh, and I can definitely think of some things they missed, but who's counting? Don't get me wrong, life has been fine, but it's hard to look at all of these and not think "humble-brag much?"
I'm skinny and tall, always was. Also have 3 kids and the amount of stick I get from people for having a flat tummy etc. I actually had a condition on two of my pregnancies that increased my metabolism on top of it so it's hard to keep weight on. I hover around the 100l-110b mark. I'm so sick of comments and people asking if I exercise a lot, diet etc. I am the laziest glutton ever. Growing up I was always told how I should go into modelling etc. It made me very insecure as I felt I was only worth what I looked. My appearance, height etc was the first thing pointed out. It's sad we put so much emphasis on appearance rather than ability.
I think I see what you mean. But it's still good to see them, and have the conversation
Load More Replies...
