A powerful wave of nostalgia has swept across social media platforms as users worldwide ushered in the new year by sharing decade-old photographs of themselves. This Instagram trend has unearthed the heavily edited selfies that dominated feeds back in 2016, a period when social media users enthusiastically smoothed complexions, enhanced eyelashes, and blurred imperfections using popular applications like FaceTune.
The Rise and Fall of Airbrushed Perfection
Even global celebrities were not immune to the allure of these digital enhancements. High-profile stars including Kris Jenner, Bella Hadid, Ariana Grande, Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Lopez, and Paris Hilton frequently posted filtered images online during that era. Since that peak, the fad for posting excessively airbrushed, seemingly perfect pictures has largely subsided. However, it appears the practice has not been entirely abandoned by all public figures.
Karren Brady's Contrasting Appearances
Viewers of the latest series of The Apprentice noticed that advisor Karren Brady looked dramatically different on screen compared to her social media presence. While the 56-year-old businesswoman embraced a more natural, au naturel appearance for the season twenty premiere, her Instagram photos continue to showcase heavy editing. These images feature long, fluttery eyelashes and a more sculpted, defined jawline, creating a stark contrast with her television persona.
Her avatar on the reality show, which returned for its twentieth series with a new cohort of candidates vying to become Lord Sugar's business partner, marked a significant departure from her curated online image. In a promotional post for the Hong Kong-set season, Karren displayed a smooth, blemish-free, and heavily bronzed visage without a visible fine line.
Katie Price's Unrecognisable Edits
Baroness Brady is certainly not the only celebrity whose social media posts diverge sharply from reality. Katie Price has frequently faced criticism for editing her photographs so extensively that she becomes almost unrecognisable. The former glamour model, who recently entered her fourth marriage, is renowned for employing filters and effects to enhance her appearance across her accounts.
From artificially generated fake lashes to a plumper pout, the mother-of-five is rarely seen without digital alterations in her photos and videos. Interestingly, her new husband, Lee Andrews, who wed Katie in Dubai, also appears to have embraced the world of filters. A recent image from his Facebook page shows him with a darker beard, smooth tanned skin, and a sharply defined jawline, looking markedly different from a version of the same photo published two years prior.
Celebrity Filter Scandals and Fan Reactions
Kris Jenner's Facelift and Filters
The results of Kris Jenner's substantial facelift, combined with her heavy filter use, were laid bare after the Kardashian matriarch underwent plastic surgery last year. When the 70-year-old momager first revealed her procedure on Instagram, stunned fans compared her youthful appearance to that of her daughter, Kim Kardashian. However, an unfiltered photo from the Los Angeles premiere of Kim's legal drama led many to conclude that Instagram is all "smoke and mirrors." Fans on Reddit discussed her undoctored look, with one noting, "That face lift might have taken a couple years off but she's still a 70-year-old woman that continues to age."
Gemma Collins' Evolving Filter Use
Gemma Collins' relationship with Instagram filters has visibly evolved over the years, as evidenced by the varied photos on her social media. The former TOWIE star, who recently showcased an impressive three-stone weight loss, has documented her changing appearance. Some snaps appear heavily edited, while others flaunt a makeup-free complexion. Fans recently expressed confusion, commenting "that isn't you" under a ski slope photo that suffered an editing mishap.
Beyoncé's Editing Controversy
Even global icon Beyoncé has faced scrutiny. Her unparalleled stage skills contrast with her photo editing, which left much to be desired after she shared edited images from the F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas. The photos, also featured on her website, presented a far more polished version than the unedited event shots, with a taut jawline and perfect skin. Observers quickly suggested tools like FaceTune had been used, with one declaring, "Bey absolutely edits her IG pics."
Khloe Kardashian's Filter Backlash
The Kardashians epitomise picture-perfect social lives, but Khloe Kardashian has repeatedly been accused of excessively filtering her photos. Criticism has grown over the years as her images often differ significantly from her real-life appearance. The backlash intensified after she was discovered editing pictures shortly after claiming to have scaled back on filter use last year.
This ongoing tension between curated online personas and authentic appearances highlights a broader cultural conversation about authenticity, aging, and the pressures of perpetual perfection in the digital age. As social media continues to evolve, the debate over filters and their impact on self-image and public perception shows no signs of fading.
