These 14 Celeb Women Resent Being Photoshopped And Have No Problem Calling Out The Media When They Mess With Their Pics
Some people couldn't recognize themselves.
Okay, we are no strangers to Photoshopping. It occurs frequently.
Well, who doesn't enjoy a good filter? But where is the line?
Removing a wrinkle or two might be acceptable in some cases, but creating a whole different character is really harmful. Namely, that alter-ego is always prettier and better built than the original.
It creates a distorted body image and makes people ashamed of their natural bodies. The only thing they should be ashamed of is not getting a good-enough program for image alteration.
Everyone is lovely in their own special way. We all have insecurities about the aspects of ourselves that set us apart from the ideal of beauty.
Every day, a large number of people struggle to overcome their fears. Celebs are not any different in that regard.
And while some of them accept (and sometimes even demand) their photos being photoshopped, there is a significant celeb movement that advocates body positivity and image alteration reduced only to a required minimum. The practice of airbrushing celebrities to perfection has produced a culture of unreachable beauty standards — and stars who aren't having it are fighting back!
Here are 14 celebrity women who don’t like their photos being changed and are not afraid to protest in public against it:
Digitally altering images has become the norm in the entertainment industry
Rawpixel / Getty Images/iStockphotoIt has created a culture of unattainable beauty standards
1. Keira Knightley
Back in 2014, Keira Knightley decided she had had enough of being Photoshopped everywhere from "paparazzi" photos to "film posters." When she later did a shoot for Interview magazine, she told them not to mess with her pics.
"That shoot was one of the ones where I said: ‘OK, I’m fine doing the topless shot so long as you don’t make them any bigger or retouch.’ Because it does feel important to say it really doesn’t matter what shape you are...I think women’s bodies are a battleground and photography is partly to blame. Our society is so photographic now, it becomes more difficult to see all of those different varieties of shape," Keira told The Times.
Jeff Spicer / Getty Images2. Lili Reinhart & Camila Mendes
Lili Reinhard and Camila Mendes are famous body positivity advocates. It goes without saying that when they discovered they had been Photoshopped as the cover stars of Cosmopolitan's Philippines edition, they were "shocked." Both Lili and Camila spoke out:
"That they would then manipulate our bodies when we are literally preaching body positivity is so personally insulting, and it's also insulting to the readers. And I'm so happy with the way that I am and I don't think that was necessary. It's never necessary to change your body. People know what I look like, I take photos on my own and I don't edit them so people know. Stop trying to lie to people, you know?" Camila to People.
Chris Delmas / AFP via Getty Images
3. Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet imposed severe limitations about Photoshopping her figure when filming Mare of Easttown. She stated that she wanted to seem like a middle-aged lady on screen and in advertising materials because she was playing a middle-aged woman in the series.
She even turned down the show's posters on two occasions because she thought they were overly cropped. When the show's director requested that she touch up a "bulgy chunk of tummy" during a sex scene, she declined.
"Authenticity is crucial in storytelling, especially when portraying complex characters. The audience connects with real, relatable flaws," says Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist."It's important for public figures to embrace their natural selves, as it sets a positive example for others struggling with body image," she adds."We need to celebrate the beauty of aging and the stories our faces tell," Dr. Durvasula emphasizes.
Kena Betancur / AFP via Getty Images
4. Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne took a stand against Photoshop in 2017 when she posed for GQ and requested that the photograph not be retouched. She then added that she made the decision to show her admirers that she isn't flawless and that they aren't alone in their insecurities. According to Dr. Susan David, an emotional agility expert, “Embracing our imperfections is a vital part of being human. It allows us to connect with others and fosters a sense of belonging.” She emphasizes that “acknowledging our vulnerabilities can help us realize that we are not alone in our struggles.”
Phillip Faraone / WireImage
5. Meghan Trainor
Meghan Trainor has always been a champion of body positivity, so when she discovered that her body in her "Me Too" video had been digitally altered, she demanded that it be taken down. Meghan claims that the edit offended her and that she only permitted the video to be reuploaded after the retouching was removed. Dr. Angela Duckworth, a psychologist known for her research on grit and perseverance, states, “When individuals feel their image has been manipulated, it can lead to a sense of betrayal and impact their self-esteem.” This sentiment echoes Meghan's feelings as she expressed, “I went to the video and was like, ‘Oh my god.’ I texted the editors like, ‘I never asked you to touch my waist. I want my waist back.’ Why would they ever be like, ‘Let’s break her ribs!’ It’s insulting, it’s rude. Especially because I’m the only artist who talks about it,” she told USA Today.
Tristan Fewings / Getty Images
6. Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle has had a lot of negative press in recent years, but she claims one of her biggest pet peeves is when photos of her are Photoshopped. She once stated that one of the most typical modifications editors make to her skin tone and freckles is something she no longer tolerates.
“To this day, my pet peeve is when my skin tone is changed and my freckles are airbrushed out of a photo shoot. For all my freckle-faced friends out there, I will share with you something my dad told me when I was younger: ‘A face without freckles is a night without stars,’ ” Meghan told Today.
Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images
7. Busy Philipps
Philipps isn't a fan of Photoshop and wants to make it clear to her fans that she isn't involved in any photo or video editing. Some people felt her moles had been photoshopped out of her face when she was featured on the cover of Health magazine in 2018. Busy took to Instagram to clarify the situation, revealing that she was the one who stopped the staff from altering the photo. Dr. Laura Berman, a renowned sex therapist, emphasizes the importance of authenticity in media representations, stating, "When celebrities speak out against photo editing, they empower others to embrace their natural selves." Philipps reassured her fans, saying, "They didn't Photoshop them out and actually that was discussed. The light was super bright which is why they look less dark, but they did NOT airbrush off my moles. Promise you." She wrote in the comment section, "I can show you the pics from the monitor at the shoot — it's truly just the bright light making them a little lighter."
Samantha Burkardt / Getty Images for SXSW
8. Jameela Jamil
When Jameela Jamil was on the cover of Virgin Airlines' in-house magazine, Vera, she requested that none of her images be edited, and they agreed – a significant thing for Jameela, who despises Photoshop. "The pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards can be detrimental to women's self-esteem," says Dr. Susan David, an emotional agility expert. "It's crucial for public figures to advocate for authenticity in media representation." Jamil expressed her gratitude, stating, "They also agreed to not airbrush me in any way, which I really appreciated as I find Photoshop to be one of the worst things to happen to women."
Amy Sussman / Getty Images
9. Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato was fed up with having their body constantly edited by others, so she wanted to undertake a completely unretouched photograph. In an attempt to retaliate, the singer posed naked and without makeup for Vanity Fair.
"A lot of times I get frustrated because people will, without my consent, Photoshop my body and it doesn't look like my own body. Like, no no no, my thighs are bigger than that, can you put them back to the way they were? I've literally done that before where I'm like, 'No, put my legs back on me. Those aren't my legs,'" Demi explained to Dr. Kelly McGonigal, health psychologist. "The pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards can lead to significant emotional distress, and it's crucial for individuals to reclaim their image and express their true selves."
Emma Mcintyre / Getty Images for iHeartMedia
10. Padma Lakshmi
Padma Lakshmi, the cover star of Elle India, asked that her images not be edited, especially her nipples, which were visible through her clothing. She later moved to Instagram to explain:
"This one I love....and yup those are my nipples. So what? We have all become so afraid of what a woman's natural body actually looks like these days. Thank you @elleindiaofficial for not airbrushing them out! They used to be a bit higher but you know #littlehands, that thirsty little bugger!!!" she Dr. Madeline Levine, child psychologist, emphasizes the importance of body positivity, stating, "We need to teach young girls that their worth is not defined by their appearance." This sentiment aligns with the growing movement against unrealistic beauty standards in media.
Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images for AHA
11. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga was on the cover of Glamour in 2013, but she didn't like how Photoshopped she looked on the cover. Gaga spoke out about the perils of Photoshop at Glamour's Women of the Year Awards just weeks after the magazine was out, urging readers to "push back against the forces that make them feel like they're not beautiful."
"I felt my skin looked too perfect. I felt my hair looked too soft. I do not look like this when I wake up in the morning,” Gaga said on stage, and then addressed the magazine saying, “It is fair to write about the change in your magazines. But what I want to see is the change on your covers...When the covers change, that's when culture changes.”
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
12. Lupita Nyong'o
When Lupita Nyong'o spotted something odd about her image on the cover of Grazia UK, she took a stand against Photoshop. Rather than wearing her hair in a bun, the magazine had Photoshopped her natural hair to make it look smoother. She expressed her dissatisfaction with the magazine's alteration of the photo to "fit their vision of what beautiful hair looks like" on Instagram.
"As I have made clear so often in the past with every fiber of my being, I embrace my natural heritage and despite having grown up thinking light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards of beauty, I now know that my dark skin and kinky, coily hair are beautiful, too. Being featured on the cover of a magazine fulfills me as it is an opportunity to show other dark, kinky-haired people, and particularly our children, that they are beautiful just the way they are...Had I been consulted, I would have explained that I cannot support or condone the omission of what is my native heritage with the intention that they appreciate that there is still a very long way to go to combat the unconscious prejudice against black women's complexion, hairstyle, and texture," she wrote on Instagram.Grazia UK later issued an apology.
David Livingston / Getty Images
13. Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington expressed that it was an "honor and a privilege" to be featured on the cover of a magazine, but she was discontent with the final result. She criticized the publication for altering her image to the point where she felt unrecognizable. As noted by Dr. Kristin Neff, a leading researcher in self-compassion, "When we see images that are heavily edited, it can distort our self-image and lead to feelings of inadequacy." Washington shared her thoughts, stating, "I have to be honest...I was taken aback by the cover. Look, I'm no stranger to Photoshopping. It happens a lot. In a way, we have become a society of picture adjusters — who doesn't love a filter?!? And I don't always take these adjustments to task but I
Rich Fury / Getty Images
14. Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski was photographed for the cover of Madame Figaro in 2017, but when she saw the final result, she found that her lips and breasts had been Photoshopped. She didn't hesitate to take to Instagram to criticize the publication, expressing her dissatisfaction with the way they chose to alter her images.
"Everyone is uniquely beautiful in their own ways. We all have insecurities about the things that make us different from a typical ideal of beauty.
I, like so many of us, try every day to work past those insecurities. I was extremely disappointed to see my lips and breasts altered in Photoshop on this cover.
I hope the fashion industry will finally learn to stop trying to stifle the things that make us unique and instead begin to celebrate individuality,” she wrote in a now-deleted post.
Theo Wargo / Getty Images
Digitally changing photographs have regrettably become the norm in the entertainment business and are utilized in everything from magazine covers to music videos. And it has reached an extent that people literally can’t recognize themselves.
How does it feel to look at a photograph and not recognize yourself? And how can you stand it?
