Global music icon Beyonce has found herself at the centre of an online storm, not for her vocal prowess, but for her apparent skill with photo editing software. The 44-year-old singer shocked her legions of fans over the weekend by sharing professionally polished images from her appearance at the star-studded F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
The Digital Double-Take
In the pictures, which were also prominently featured on her official website, the Beautiful Liar songstress appears far more refined than in candid, unedited photographs taken at the same event. A side-by-side comparison reveals a significant transformation. In the version shared by Beyonce herself, her jawline appears noticeably more taut and her skin is flawlessly smooth and glossy, a look that immediately raised eyebrows among her observant followers.
Once the images hit social media platforms, fans were quick to voice their suspicions. Many suggested that popular photo-enhancement tools like FaceTune or FaceApp had been employed to perfect the star's appearance. One user commented, "Bey absolutely edits her IG pics and it's been talked about for a while now," while another added, "Not the BeyHive constantly posting her IG airbrush specials. Nah baby. In real time this is how Beyonka really looks."
Fan Wars and Unexpected Praise
The incident drew particular attention from the fanbase of fellow artist Nicki Minaj, known as the Barbz. This came after Nicki herself was recently trolled online for appearing curvier than usual during a speech at the United Nations. One furious Barb seized the opportunity, writing, "Beyonce in real life vs herself on Instagram. Her hag fanbase said she looks the same and no edits were made." Another noted, "After BeyHive were making fun of Nicki, Beyoncé popped out looking huge. I love how the universe works."
Despite the backlash over the edited images, Beyoncé was simultaneously praised for her authentic figure. Her choice of a plunging PVC playsuit at the event delighted many who applauded her for showcasing her incredible curves and seemingly not giving in to the Hollywood trend of using weight-loss jabs like Ozempic. Many took to Reddit to express their admiration, with one user stating, "One thing I have noticed, she's not giving into Hollywood's trend with Ozempic." Others simply lauded her overall look, with one fan quipping, "Beyoncé single handedly turning me into a massive F1 fan."
A Common Celebrity Conundrum
Beyonce is far from the first A-lister to face accusations of over-editing social media photos. Reality television star Khloe Kardashian has been a repeat offender, most famously posting a heavily altered selfie back in 2020. However, Kardashian has since claimed she has scaled back on using such apps, recently admitting on her podcast, "There was a time that I definitely did. There was a time that I was around some people that would make me feel like I needed to."
At the Las Vegas event, Beyonce was joined by her husband, Jay-Z, who kept his style effortlessly cool in an all-black ensemble. The power couple, whose combined net worth is estimated at a staggering $3 billion, have been in the news for their property investments, having recently taken out a $57.75 million mortgage on their $88 million Bel-Air compound. The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Beyonce for comment on the photo editing allegations.
