Psychologist reveals the sad reason why celebrities edit their Instagram photos beyond all recognition – and why their fans NEVER call them out
A leading psychologist has offered he thoughts on a worrying new phenomenon sweeping social media.
In recent years, social media users have become increasingly exposed to images of celebrities looking almost unrecognisable thanks to excessive editing.
While it’s no secret that magazines and advertisers publish heavily-retouched photos of celebrities, the advent of easy-to-use photo editing apps such as Facetune means that celebrities can take matters into their own hands.
Revealed: Psychologist Rachel Tomlinson has revealed the sad reason why celebrities edit their Instagram photos to look completely unrecognisable. Pictured: Married At First Sight’s Mishel Karen looking unrecognisable in a photo shared to Instagram last Friday (right). Pictured left: Mishel on MAFS in September 2019
A slew of Australian celebrities have been accused of Photoshopping themselves beyond recognition, including Married At First Sight stars Mishel Karen, Sarah Roza and Martha Kalifatidis.
The like of Florence Moerenhout and Jake Ellis from Bachelor in Paradise and Love Island Australia’s Amelia Marni have also faced scrutiny.
‘The selfie culture is prevalent and it’s rooted in insecurity’, said Rachel Tomlinson, a registered psychologist and founder of Toward Wellbeing.
Is that really you? Married At First Sight star Sarah Roza looked barely recognisable as she posed in a plunging leopard print dress earlier this year (left). Pictured right on the red carpet in 2017
Like everyone else, celebrities are vulnerable to feeling insecure and often turn to social media for affirmation of self worth, said Rachel.
‘Image based social media platforms (particularly Instagram) create situations where a person’s sense of validation come externally from engagement with posts; likes, comments and followers,’ she explains.
‘When we receive notifications (and the resulting affirmation of self worth) our body releases dopamine which is a feel good hormone and it has an addictive quality,’ she says.
Bizarre: Married At First Sight’s Martha Kalifatidis recently often shares photos of herself looking almost unrecognisable (right). Pictured right on MAFS
The overwhelmingly superficial nature of showbusiness means that many celebrities tie their self-worth to their appearance.
‘Celebrities are looking for approval so they put their best foot forward (as it were) so might be prone to using photoshop in the same way that others do, to seek approval and present themselves in the best light,’ she says.
However, Rachel warns that tweaking photos can lead to the rise of an insideous, distorted reality.
Trick of the eye? In 2017, The Bachelor’s Florence Moerenhout shared this photo of herself at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne. But fans were distracted by the boardwalk, which appeared to bend unnaturally around her bottom and thighs, suggesting she had used a warp tool
That’s awkward! In 2017, a warped wall in the background of The Bachelorette star Jake Ellis’ selfie led to suggestions that he had digitally enhanced his bicep
This can lead to a distorted reality which happens insidiously, and over time,’ she warns.
Rachel also explains why fans rarely call out celebrities for posting edited photos of themselves on social media.
‘Some research tells us we aren’t that great at picking up that images have been edited,’ she says.
‘It could be that we expect or have gotten used to seeing images that have been edited that we know it’s occurring but we don’t acknowledge it.’
Further, Rachel points out that fans may also crave ‘the approval of their idol (as someone they look up to) so are unlikely to call them out or make negative comments about them.’
Airbrushed to oblivion? In January 2019, Love Island Australia star Amelia Marni (left) appeared to have one leg in this poolside picture with boyfriend Josh Moss (right) due to heavy airbrushing