What we see in the media has a profound effect on what we think about ourselves and others and how we live our lives. Most of these effects are subconscious and can negatively affect women since the media is filled with unrealistic images of women.
These images have created a “toxic cultural environment” that has caused women to have eating disorders and negative views of their bodies. Author and ad critic Jean Kilbourne, who is behind the documentary Killing Us Softly, says that the average American woman encounters 3,000 advertisements per day. They are constantly bombarded by images of unrealistic body proportions and women who are airbrushed and Photoshopped to look flawless. They think what they see is real and that they should look this way, yet is just illusions used to sell products and control our ideals.
“Women and girls compare themselves to these images every day,” Kilbourne said. “And failure to live up to them is inevitable because they are based on a flawlessness that doesn’t exist.”
It has caused an astounding 50 percent of girls aged 3 to 6-years-old to worry about their weight. Women in the island of Fiji rushed to start diets and began thinking something was wrong with them after television arrived on their island. But they are trying to attain something that isn’t real because the images they see are altered. If these images are real, it’s likely that the women in them aren’t totally healthy.
Instagram account beauty.false is blowing the lid on these images showing models and influencers that modified their pictures to perfection and then images of them in everyday life. The contrast is stark showing that these women in ads aren’t perfect and look like us causing many to consider that maybe we’re all just perfect the way we are.
Speaking of misleading photos, there’s no way to tell where beauty.false gets their photos from or if the way they are represented are totally accurate. So, you’ll just have to make up your own mind! Either way, these images help us to strive to live in truth and at least try to be happy with whatever we’re working with, whether we seek to improve that or not.
Here are 60 images of influencers who alter photos and what they actually look like in real life:
1) Angle and Pose
Sometimes all it takes is an angle and pose to change the way we feel about our bodies. A different cut in clothing can also make all the difference. Still, it’s the same body behind those clothes and poses.
2) We Have Acne
Models have to wear a lot of makeup so that it shows up properly in photos. That causes them to get acne. You’d never know that since so many photos are retouched.
3) Cellulite
This model is extremely fit. But she still has cellulite in real life. That’s because it’s normal.
4) Awkward Stage
We all have our awkward stage when growing up. Models do too. We all grow and change.
5) Instagram vs. Reality
Instagram is not a reflection of reality. It involves makeup, lighting, and filters. What you see on Instagram is not what you get.
6) Off-guard
There’s a big difference between our selfies and pictures taken of us when we’re caught off-guard. The same goes for celebrities. The difference can be pretty drastic.
7) Fantasy
The one on the left looks perfectly beautiful and fit. But her photo is altered to create this unrealistic look. Imagine trying to attain something that can never actually be attained. It could be enough to drive one mad or at least never allow you to be happy with the way you look.
8) Candid Shot
This Instagram influencer has very long legs. But they look a lot longer in her non-candid shots. But it’s just some Instagram trickery.
9) Photoshop or Angle
We can all look more narrow when we angle our body a certain way. But we can also do that with Photoshop. It’s all just illusion.
10) Beauty vs. Beauty
Both equally beautiful. But one is more realistic than the other. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all just be happy with the way we look?
11) Butt Implants
Some people get butt implants to enhance the size of their bottom. But this seems to be case of Photoshop. Or just some serious angling.
12) Waist
It probably is possible to get a waist that small if you train your waist with a corset. But she seems pretty healthy and beautiful looking in the photo on right. This photo looks like two totally different people even though it isn’t.
13) Braces
Sometimes you need braces. Even models do. Her smile is beautiful and bright in both photos.
14) Real vs. Photoshop
Do you see the differences in between the two photos? We have bigger boobs, smaller chins, and smaller waists in the edited photo. I wonder what the editor thought was wrong with the first photo?
15) Wrinkles
Wrinkles… everyone’s got them. Or everyone will at some point. It’s just a fact of life.
16) Pretty All Around
There images are different looking. But they are all beautiful to me. Beauty all around.
17) Acne
Feeling bad about your acne? Well, that can be normal. But so is acne.
18) Makeup
This is clearly the same beautiful woman in both photos. But doing your makeup can change up your whole look. Which is a lot of fun!
19) Blemishes
We all get blemishes. No one is totally perfect. Even Instagram influencers.
20) Relax
Does her butt really look like that? Maybe, maybe not. She could just be more relaxed in one photo.
21) High Butt
Want a juicy looking butt? Just hold up your butt cheeks. It’s as simple as that.
22) Runway Booty
Runway booty looks a lot different than editorial booty. But they are all booties of the same woman. And even though they look different, they are all beautiful.
23) Same Face
This is what you call an Instagram transformation. Believe it or not, both of these pictures are of the same woman. Just some editing work.
24) Gorgeous
What a gorgeous girl. But that’s clearly a filter she’s using. I wonder why she wants to look entirely different?
25) Bent Over
You can look entirely different with just a little lean. You can look thinner or more voluptous. Or you can just be relaxed and look like yourself.
26) The New You
Having plastic surgery is a personal choice. It can make you look completely different. So can make and some hair dye.
27) When Is It Enough?
All women are entitled to have whatever body they wish. But when is beautiful enough, enough? What message does this send to women when fit women have to fake being fitter than they are?
28) Expectation vs. Reality
Sometimes our expectations don’t always match reality. These photos are proof. Sometimes reality is better.
29) Facade
Instagram influencers put on a facade. One that isn’t true to reality. So, don’t let images change the way you feel about you.
30) Stars in Real Life
The girl on the right looks like someone you’d see on the street. On the left she looks like something most women could never be. But even reality TV stars and influencers look just like you and me in real life.
31) Same Face
Here we have the same face. Just with different facial expressions and different makeup. Still looking beautiful but one seems a little more real looking.
32) Men and Photoshop
Women aren’t the only ones seeking a picture perfect physique. These guys seem to have been using Photoshop too. What you see on Instagram isn’t always what you get IRL.
33) Our Best
We all want to look our best in photos. But at one point does it become unhealthy? At what point does it become harmful and ourselves to others to portray ourselves as something we aren’t?
34) Pretty Times Two
This woman is stunningly beautiful. Whether she’s angling or not. But hitting those angles sure does make the photo look different.
35) Fitness
This woman is a fitness model. But it seems like she uses Photoshop. What kind of message does that send about fitness and health if a fitness model has to alter her natural looks?
36) Coachella
Ladies get all dressed up for Coachella. But for some reasons their posed photos look a lot different than their candid photos. Hmmmmm….
37) Clench
Whoaaahhh! How did she get her but to look like that? Is she clenching her butt cheeks in the photo on the left?
38) Girls to Women
These photos show how things can change a lot over a few years. But one thing is obvious. We all started out as youngins.
39) Carrington Who?
The photo on the right is of Carrington Durham. So is the photo on the right. But she looks kind of diferent in real life. Just as beautiful, but definitely different.
40) The Heavy Edit
There’s some pretty heavy edits here. When young girls see these images they thing there’s something wrong with their body because they can’t get it to look like the Instagram models can. But here’s a secret… neither can the Instagram models.
41) Big Head
When this girl Photoshopped her photo… she left something out. She forgot to Photoshop her head. It doesn’t seem proportionate with her body size.
42) No Shame In Her Edit Game
According to beauty.false, this influencer doesn’t hid ethe fact that she edits her photos. And more power to her. At least she is being with her audience member so they understand that these looks aren’t actually real.
43) Same Woman, Different Lighting
It’s the same woman in these photos. There’s just different lighting going on. Make some different makeup and angling too.
44) Real vs. Illusion
Here we have what some women want us to see. And then it’s what they reall have going on. Seems like a lot of effort when to take when you’re already beautiful.
45) Lights, Camera
Besides the hair color, there is one other thing that is making the photos of the same woman look so different. That thing is lighting. It’s making a huge difference.
46) Lying
There’s retouching. And then there is straight up lying. This influencer feels the needs to lie about her actual looks for some reason.
47) Play
It looks like someone played with these photos a bit. These women seem more full figured in the original photos. Their also seem flatter in the rear end area.
48) Who’s That Girl
If you looked at this photo really quickly you might think it’s two different women wearing the same dress. But it’s not. The lighting and possibly some retouching has switched up the look.
49) Skinny
This woman is extremely fit. But apparently not fit enough in her own mind or her photographer’s because her photos are edited to make her look skinnier and smaller. If she thinks this about herself, what will other women think about themselves seeing photos like this?
50) Makeup and No Makeup
This girl definitely looks like herself. She just has makeup in one photo and doesn’t in the other. But there is definitely some Photoshopping being done in her other photos.
51) Sucking It In
This chick is sucking it in real hard in the photo on the left. We’ve all done it. Or it could be Photoshop?
52) Altered or Angled
This photo could be altered. Or she just could be angled. Either way it’s important for women to see this unposed photos.
53) Cookie Cutter
Are these the same girl? No! But they look almost exactly the same. That’s because media tells women they should have a cookie cutter look.
54) There It Is
Think that models don’t have cellulite? Wrong! There it is.
55) Incredible
You can do incredible things with makeup. You can completely transform your look. But we all like pretty similar when the makeup comes off.
56) Touch Up
I personally don’t understand how this woman could look at the original photo and think it needs to be touched up in any way. But it is slightly altered and the lighting is changed. The one on the right looks just as beautiful to me.
57) Rolls
Most people have rolls when they sit down comfortably. Even Instagram models. It’s how skin works.
58) Face Shape
No one is perfect. But Instagram tricks some into believing this is so. Why does society want women to think they aren’t good enough the way they are? Now that’s the real question we should be asking… hmmm.
59) Fit, Fit, Fit
Imagine all the young girls trying to be this thin. Then failing and hating their bodies because they can get their bodies to look like this. All because they’re being lied to.
60) Making Fun
At least this girl is being real. She’s showing a posed photo of herself. But also a funny photo of herself.
It’s amazing what you’ll notice when you open your eyes and view the world from a different perspective. That’s what these people found out. Their comparison photos examining the differences and similarities between things will blow your mind.
By looking at two items beside one another, they made some pretty fascinating realizations. Sometimes, it has to do with landscape changes across different seasons. Other times, it is related to people. For example, the mom who matched her face up with her daughter’s and realized that they were pretty much identical twins.
In the moment, one might never notice these sorts of things, but viewing the photos side by side helps to provide contrast and prime our minds for new realizations. Once you see the images for yourself, you’ll understand what we mean.
This sign can be found at a ski resort in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The photos show what it looks like in the summer versus the winter. It makes you appreciate how much snow they really get out there.
The first photo is what the dog looks like on the way to the lake. The second photo is what he looks like on the car ride home. He is completely exhausted after a long day of playing!
The giant ship in the back belongs to Chinese explorer Zheng. At the same time he was out sailing the world, so was Christopher Columbus. Columbus’s tiny ship named Santa Maria can be seen in the front. The difference between the two is astounding.
This photo shows four different paintings made by each of the mom’s four kids. Upon turning five years old, the mom had each of them paint the same sunflower. Each of the kids represented the flower very differently.
This slide from a university class describes the differences between urban, suburban, and rural living. We never thought of our environment in the context of public nudity like this professor did, but there is definitely some truth to his arguments.
These pictures were only taken one week apart. It’s amazing how fast the leaves can change in the fall. They went from light green to a brilliant red within seven short days.
The top photo shows the dog’s expression when he was first adopted back in 2012. Now, years later, he is like a completely different dog. He is so much happier and full of energy.
The boy has gotten a lot older, but he still has the same goofy grin. On the left is him on his first day of primary school. The image on right is him on his last day of teacher training.
Noah started as a cancer patient. Now he is a cancer survivor. It brings us so much joy to see him healthy again, and the whole time, his beautiful smile never changed.
“I did a half face comparison of myself and my daughter today, it’s kind of freaky,” explains the mom. The similarities are striking. The facial features between the mom and daughter line up perfectly.
We always knew that dolphins were incredibly intelligent, but seeing a dolphin’s brain compared a shark’s is especially illuminating. It’s one of the most interesting science museum exhibits that we’ve ever seen.
We often forget that different species’ eyes work differently. For example, birds can see ultraviolet light, while humans can’t. Many parts of their life are much more colorful than ours.
This is an image of Berlin, Germany viewed from space at night. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, each half of the city used a different type of lightbulb. It’s been over 25 years and the difference is still visible.
Want to know how big the trucks really are at quarries? Look no further than this photo. There is a full-sized school bus driving by the machines. It looks miniature in comparison.
Video game graphics have changed a lot over the years. Just have a look at the differences in these popular games. The originals are insanely simple compared to the newer versions.
Here is a then and now photo from World War II taken on the same street 72 years later. There were soldiers and tanks running around the dusty alleys during the war, but looking at the area now, you would never guess.
This is the world’s smallest computer sitting next to a grain of rice. If you were to look at the computer with your naked eye, it would be barely visible. That’s how incredibly complex computer technology is getting these days.
Here we have a “side by side comparison of the papal thrones for Benedict XVI and Francis”. One is very luxurious and the other is not. Both pictures were taken on the day that the men were appointed pope.
On the left is Barcelona, Spain in the daytime. It is lined up with a photo of the same part of the city at night. It’s pretty cool. The nighttime shot looks like the city is on fire.
Wolfdogs have a lot of variation based on the percent of each species that they have in their genome. One is 98% wolf, while the other is only 40%. The 98% one looks a lot more mangy and wild.
The apartment on the left has smokers living in it. The blinds are completely stained yellow from the cigarettes. The apartment on the right is filled with non-smokers.
Human domestication of plants is really having a big effect on the plants’ properties. The first tomato is a modern one. The second was grown from 150-year-old seeds. It is a tomato in its natural state.
The happy face is when the owners are coming home. The sad face is when the owners are leaving. So much of a dog’s mood depends on the presence of the humans that they love.
Here we have another great reason to stop smoking. The ceiling tiles in the smoking room of the airport are disgusting in comparison to the ceiling tiles outside. We can only imagine what smokers’ lungs must look like.
This dog is super fun to be around at the beach. The pup is in her element. However, when she gets home and has to have her feet cleaned, her mood completely changes.
The candle on the left is what a normal candle looks like burning on earth. The one on the right is a candle burning in microgravity on the International Space Station. In low gravity environments, the flame doesn’t really rise at all.
This is actually just one photo. The photographer caught someone else’s flash in the shot while they were taking it. It made it so the snow only showed up in half of it.
These two friends are both 13 years old. However, their height couldn’t be more different. The one kid is practically a giant in comparison. It’s obvious that he hit puberty first.
The first photo was taken in front of a liquor store. The second was taken at an eye surgery center. It turns out, both parking lots are frequently visited by people who have trouble driving safely.
Different cat breeds can vary a lot in size. For example, here we have a Maine Coon and an American Shorthair cat. The one cat could literally eat the other one.
These two were photographed while taking a nap together. The photo at the start of the nap is pretty normal. However, as the nap goes on, they both get more and more comfortable.
In 1990, every electronic item had one purpose. Now, almost 30 years later, all you need is a smartphone. A smartphone has all of the capabilities of the old devices and more packed into one tiny pocket-sized device.
The photo on the left was taken on the woman’s wedding day. The photo on the right is when she met famous actor Rob Lowe. There is a big difference in her excitement levels.
This photographer took a photo of the same bull five years apart. It’s at a ranch that he visits in Texas. The bull has grown a lot over the years, but it’s still happily grazing away.
The B-2 Bomber design was based on the shape of the Peregrine Falcon. The aerodynamic properties of the bird were modeled in the aircraft. It’s crazy how similar they look.
These pictures clearly illustrate the difference between moms and dads. The mom accompanies the toddler the whole way down the slide. The dad simply races to catch up.
The first image shows what the Arctic polar region used looked like. The second shows the same spot 103 years later. The ice caps and snow have all but disappeared.
This family has two skinny cats and one fat one. They let all three of them run around outside in the snow. Can you tell which tracks belong to the fat cat?
At Target, a pack of twelve pieces of chalk is being sold for 99 cents. At the college bookstore, it is priced at almost twelve dollars. That is one dollar per piece of chalk!
The one Corgi is very fluffy. The other has a smoother shorter-haired coat. It just goes to show that even within the same breed, dogs can be very different.
You definitely wouldn’t want to leave your boat sitting around all day at this dock. When the tide goes out, the scenery looks very different. The two photos were taken twelve hours apart.
This photo shows a human skeleton compared to a gorilla skeleton. They are surprisingly similar. Although, there are plenty of interesting differences as well.
This father and son photo proves that genetics isn’t always a clear cut thing. Just because your dad is short doesn’t mean you are going to be short, and vice versa. There are a lot of factors.
This person lives next to the ocean. The difference between the doorknob on the outside of their home versus the inside is pretty shocking. Saltwater is highly corrosive and ends up in the air and rain.
The women on the outside of the photo are women’s basketball players. In between them are the team’s cheerleaders. The height difference between the two groups is unbelievable.
This photo is fascinating. It shows the different claw sizes of various types of animal. The most interesting part is how harpy eagle claws are almost as big as the bear claws.
In this comparison, we see an elephant foot versus a human foot. It’s pretty surprising. The elephants actually have bones like we do. However, they are buried deep underneath many layers of soft cartilage.
This is what a bee stinger and needle look like under a microscope. The needle is fatter and more pointed. The bee stinger is much more slender with a serrated edge.
This is “the difference between 31 and 21,” explains the woman. She is still sober and functioning on her night out, while the younger woman is lying on the ground next to the toilet vomiting.
This person was fascinated by the glass of water that they poured. They filled up the bottom of the glass with tap water. Then poured sparkling water on top. The two liquids stayed separated.
Dwayne Johnson is 6’4″ and weighs 260 pounds. We’ve always considered him to be a very big and muscular man but just look at him next to Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. He doesn’t even compare.
On the left is what Norwegian soldiers looked like 75 years ago. On the right is what they look like now. They went from a jacket, a hood, and a handgun to full-on tactical gear.
In this photo, we can see the massive difference between types of light bulbs. On the left, the streetlights use new LEDs, whereas, on the right, they are the old kind.
Here we have a sign comparing Japan’s highest bridge to the height of Godzilla. It is a weird comparison to make, but also hilarious. We think that all heights should be measured in comparison to Godzilla.
This is what the lake in Michigan looks like at 9:00 am versus 11:00 am. The fog rolls in thick and heavy in the morning. You can’t see anything, but just a few hours later, it’s like it never happened.
After hurricane Florence hit a few years ago, the damage was immense. Just have a look at this before and after picture of a street in Surf City, North Carolina. The surrounding landscape and roads basically didn’t exist afterward.
The weather changes quickly in Utah. That’s what these images show. One day, everything is completely covered in snow, and the next, it is completely melted off. It’s pretty crazy.
In Girls’ Life magazine, all they talk about is hair, fashion, and beauty. In Boy’s Life magazine, it’s more about career planning and science. It’s certainly a big difference.
“Whenever somebody posts a photo of the Milky Way, people invariably ask ‘is that how you see it with the naked eye?’. Here’s a representation of what you do see compared to what comes out of the camera,” the photographer explains. The moral of the story is that the night sky is best viewed in person!
These two shoppers are about to experience two very different nights. The single man will be feasting on chicken and drinking whiskey for Valentine’s day, while the other shopper will be celebrating it with a loving partner.
It’s hard to fathom how big the earth is, but this image does a great job at providing some points of reference. It shows all of the earth’s water and air condensed into balls and placed next to our giant planet.
This one is a comparison between a Tyrannosaurus Rex foot and an emu foot. The dinosaur’s foot is a lot bigger, but structurally, they look about the same. Birds are closely related to the ancient reptiles.
The set of stairs that is crumbling was built out of stones in 1829. The nicer set was built in 2005 from cement. We can clearly see how things have changed over time.
In the front, we can see the Titanic. In its heyday, it was celebrated for its incredible size. Yet, it is just a fraction of the size of the modern cruise ships today. Behind the Titanic is a picture of the largest cruise ship that currently exists.
On the top is a photo of a normal day in California. On the bottom is what the same view looks like when all of the wildfires are burning. The recent fires in the state are a huge cause for concern.
Michelin makes a lot of different sizes of tires. Some are even larger than people are. For example, here is their biggest tire placed next to their smallest tire.
Motorola flip phones used to be all the rage back in the 90s and early 2000s. This one was crafted in 1998. The current smartphones make the old ones look so primitive.
This photo shows the volume difference of a small versus a medium orange juice at McDonald’s. The most interesting part? There is essentially no difference…
These door handles show how many right-handed people there are at the school compared to left-handed people. The door on the right gets a lot more use. Although, part of that is because it is also a social norm to enter through the right.
This diagram shows “Russia and Bangladesh’s sizes compared to their population”. Bangladesh actually has more people living in the country than Russia. However, its total land area is tiny in comparison.
There is a giant market for toy lightsabers and the quality varies significantly. On the left is a lightsaber that costs $10. On the right is one that costs $400.
He’s a husband and father first, but he’s also a funny comedy video creator. This New Zealand dad creates entertaining videos that get lots of hits because they’re downright hilarious. Jordan Watson shares parenting tips and tricks on his youtube page, with a great tongue in cheek style, that other dads (or anyone who takes care of kids) can relate to. Each video has his comedic sense of humor with a deadpan delivery, as he parodies the “how-to” videos that are popular on the internet.
Jordan Watson, from Aukland, New Zealand is a part-time landscaper, full-time dad, and viral video creator.
His first video was just a goof he put together when he was left alone with his baby, Alba. The video is titled, “How to Hold a Baby” and is currently at 3.7 million views. And that’s not even his most-watched video.
In an interview with Stuff, Watson still can’t believe the video went viral overnight,
“It was just me cutting together, in my eyes, crap – just me being an idiot and thinking that one guy at work’s going to like it.”
“Every parent can kind of relate, and there’s so many people out there who’re aunties, uncles, they look after people’s kids… It’s just everyday scenarios with kids which has given me the inspiration for it.”
Jordan always wears his trademark shirt and shorts or as they’re called in New Zealand, Togs.
In this video, which currently has over four million views, Jordan offers his own witty advice on how to put a baby to sleep. He lists and demonstrates a number of techniques, all with a deadpan delivery that only Jordan can muster.
Some examples are “The Hypnotist,” where dad dangles a nearby toy in front of the baby and coaxes her to sleep.
The funny thing about this video is that the real star is not Jordan.
No, it’s his baby daughter, Alba. She is such an integral part of the humor, because nearly every time Dad tries his methods, they work. The little one lays down to go to sleep, and her comedic timing is perfect. Dad administers the technique, Alba listens, and then to our rousing laughter, she complies. Leaving Jordan to say,
“It’s never really that easy.”
In Stuff, Jordan had this to say about his daughter,
“I think if you take Alba the cute baby out of it, they’re not going to do very well – it’s definitely 99 percent her, 1 percent me.”
Get ready to laugh with this video. And prepare to go down the rabbit hole as “How To Dad,” Jordan Watson, has an ever-growing collection of funny videos. He feeds his followers a video a week, and probably feeds his charming family with the proceeds.
All in, he’s a really great husband and father, enjoy his funny “how-to” below!
So when one restaurant in Thailand opened its doors for the first time in months, they had some obstacles to overcome.
Maison Saigon, a Vietnamese restaurant in Bangkok, originally planned on having only one chair at each table to promote social distancing according to Insider.
But that just wasn’t cutting it.
When the owner, Natthwut Rodchanapanthkul, saw what the restaurant looked like with only one chair per table, he wasn’t satisfied.
He told reports at Reuters, “Earlier we had only one chair for the tables where the customer came alone. But for me, it felt strange, so I thought I’d give them some company.”
But how do you give someone company at a table when you aren’t supposed to be anywhere near each other?
One customer told Reuters, “The doll makes me feel less lonely eating by myself.”
Another customer explained that the stuffed animals not only improved the vibe of the place, but it made seating arrangements more clear as well.
He told reporters, “It’s a lot easier to understand compared to other restaurants where people always get confused about where to sit and end up sitting too close to each other.”
