Photoshop is used on most commercial images these days. It’s expected, it’s the new norm. But the Photoshopping isn’t only used to thin out arms or clean up blemishes as you might expect. Besides thinning, it’s also used to add curves and smooth out muscles. Some would argue that these types of images create unrealistic expectations and standards for beauty in our society. So we now have both sides of the story, people being photoshopped to look smaller and others to look bigger. And then of course some to look younger.
Kate Winslet's face has been airbrushed so significantly in this Vogue cover image that she almost doesn't look human. Kourtney Kardashian posed for this original photo (left) seven days after giving birth to her son Mason. The image was published in Life and Style magazine. A short while later, this second image (right) appeared on the cover of OK! magazine, which changed the colour of Kourtney and Mason's clothing to give the impression of a new photo shoot. They also slimmed Kourtney's stomach down, making her look as though she'd lost all of her baby weight. Beyoncé's curves are pretty much famous in their own right, so it's surprising that Harpers Bazaar magazine chose to slim them down and give the star a prominent thigh gap.
Prince George may only be 10 months old, but he's already had his first photoshopping scandal. The image selected for the cover of Us Weekly appeared to show Prince George with lighter cheeks, hair, eyes, and eyebrows in comparison with the original image (left). The magazine denied photoshopping the image, saying, "The original image used for the Prince George cover was dark and bluish in tone and needed to be given an overall color shift for printing purposes. Grazia magazine came under serious fire when this commemorative Royal Wedding issue hit the stands. It was quickly noticed that Kate's waist looked as though it'd been considerably slimmed down on the cover. Grazia was forced by the Press Complaints Commission to release a statement detailing what had happened. The magazine explained that the the image was altered to remove Prince William so that the cover showed Kate alone.
The Kardashian sisters were airbrushed in their advertising campaign for lingerie at Sears. Despite being one of the most gorgeous women on the planet, Jennifer Lawrence had just about every part of her photoshopped for her magazine cover shoot for Flare magazine. It wasn't just Flare magazine that altered Jennifer Lawrence's appearance - GQ has too. These before-and-after images show Jennifer's stomach, legs, arms, and face all appearing slimmer. Mariah Carey is undoubtedly gorgeous, but she looks virtually unrecognisable in the image on her new album cover. Kim Kardashian was photoshopped for this OK! cover image. Not only do Kim's hips appear slimmer in the image selected for the cover of OK! Ralph Lauren was forced to make a public apology after this image of Filippa Hamilton was released (right) so heavily photoshopped that she appeared dangerously emaciated.
- I’m a big fan of Photoshop. In fact, I bet I use it every other day, if not every day. It’s a program that allows you to clip, crop, edit, tweak, color, discolor, warp, bend, flip…any image. You name it, it’s nearly possible to do anything to an image to change it just how you want.
- And if you’ve stood in a checkout line at any grocery store and found yourself staring at the beautiful woman or handsome man on cover of the magazine that sits below the one featuring the pregnant man, and above the one that proclaims Bigfoot has (yet again!) been spotted, you may have found yourself jealous and annoyed. You’re ticked off because the cover gals and dudes are better looking than you.
- But their glowing beauty, like the pregnant man and Bigfoot, are grossly exaggerated. Sure, some celebrities were ‘born with it’. That’s life. They’ll never do wrong or look bad in any light. What, don’t believe me?
- Well, special thanks to model Denise Alceda for explaining that yes, you’re not perfect, but that’s okay - because celebs aren’t either. Brittany Murphy. Penelope Cruz. Wonder what she’s pondering? Burgers or corn dogs for lunch. Kristen Stewart. Minimal edits. Congrats. Rachel Weisz. Nicollette Sheridan. Again, the eye bags. Naomi Watts. Defreckling. Alicia Silverstone. Clueless? She saves on lipstick by only buying one shade. Katy Perry. Insta-workout. Faith Hill. Faith was just fine with the really fat, out of shape arm in the first pic.
There’s a growing conversation about how retouching shapes public perception of beauty. The retoucher’s toolkit ranges from subtle perfection to dramatic transformations, often altering skin texture, body proportions, and overall tone. Taylor or multiple other celebrities appear in examples where the original image and the edited version convey markedly different aesthetics, raising questions about authenticity and self-image.
In this era of social media, the line between editorial images and personal posts can blur, making it harder for audiences to distinguish reality from artifice. Some argue that retouching can boost confidence and set higher professional standards for photographers, while others warn that unattainable standards fuel body image issues and insecurities, especially among young audiences. The debate continues as readers and viewers weigh the value of authenticity against the allure of magazine-perfect imagery.
As viewers, we encounter the before-and-after narratives across magazines, campaigns, and red-carpet moments. These side-by-sides invite reflection on what authenticity looks like in public life and how much of a celebrity’s image is constructed versus inherent. The ongoing scrutiny prompts a broader discussion about media literacy, consent, and the responsibilities of editors and brands in portraying beauty.
