A decade ago, beauty was defined by glossy magazine covers, A-list celebrities, and runway models. Now? It’s dictated by Instagram filters, TikTok trends, and the airbrushed fantasy of social media influencers.
From plumped lips and snatched jawlines to tiny waists and impossibly long legs, today’s beauty ideals are evolving at an alarming pace. As a result, they have created unrealistic expectations that are both addictive and unattainable.
But is it all bad? Has social media warped our perception of beauty beyond recognition, or has it actually made beauty more diverse and inclusive?
Story Stages
The Rise of the ‘Instagram Face’
Once upon a time, beauty came in many different flavours. Now, scroll through Instagram, and you’ll notice a disturbing trend—everyone is starting to look the same.
This phenomenon, dubbed ‘Instagram Face,’ describes the hyper-symmetrical, high-cheekboned, plumped-lipped, fox-eyed look that dominates social media. Think: Bella Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and every second influencer with access to FaceTune.
According to a 2023 study by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 76% of surgeons reported an increase in patients requesting procedures to look more like their filtered selfies.
The line between reality and digital fantasy is starting to fade, and the chase for perfection has never been more intense.
Flawlessness? It’s all an Illusion
Back in the good old days, Photoshop was reserved for high-end fashion magazines. Now, it’s available at the tap of a screen.
Apps like FaceApp, Facetune, and even Snapchat have become digital plastic surgeons, allowing people to reshape their faces, smooth their skin, and enhance their features in real time.
This has created quite an unfair and unrealistic playing field, where no one actually looks like their photos—yet those who consume them believe they do.
We reached out to London Deluxe and spoke to Tatiana, one of their high-class London escorts. As a professional companion, she relies on her photos to get bookings, and she reveals that these modern ‘filter’ trends have even affected the mindsets of her clients:
“I’ve met men who booked me expecting some kind of AI-generated fantasy. They were surprised to see I had real skin, real curves, and real features. The funny thing is, once they got over the shock of me not being a walking filter, they actually found natural beauty more appealing.”
The irony? The very thing people are running from—authenticity—is what they find most attractive in the flesh.
Inclusivity or Another Trap?
Social media isn’t all bad. In fact, it’s arguably done more for inclusivity than traditional media ever has.
Before platforms like Instagram and TikTok, beauty was one-size-fits-all—if you didn’t fit the mould, you didn’t exist. Now, we see:
- Darker skin tones finally being celebrated rather than erased or lightened.
- Plus-size models on magazine covers and brand campaigns.
- Skin conditions like acne, vitiligo, and scars embraced instead of hidden.
- Natural hair movements fighting back against Eurocentric beauty standards.
But is this true inclusivity or just another curated aesthetic?
Some argue that while social media has technically expanded the definition of beauty, it has only created new, equally unattainable ideals. For example:
- Slim-thick: You need a small waist but also wide hips and a huge bum.
- Natural beauty, but perfect: Freckles are in—but only the cute, evenly spaced ones.
- Curvy but toned: You can have a fuller figure, but your stomach must be flat.
The rules keep changing, but the pressure to conform remains the same.
What’s Next? Are We Finally Rejecting Perfection?
There’s a growing backlash against social media’s obsession with perfection. More influencers are ditching filters, celebrities are showing off their ‘real’ skin, and Gen Z seems to be leading the charge in embracing flaws.
Movements like #BodyPositivity, #NoFilter, and #SelfLove are pushing back, and more people are starting to question the illusion of online beauty.
But let’s be honest—the pressure isn’t going anywhere.
The beauty industry is a multi-billion-dollar machine, and social media is its perfect sales tool. As long as there’s money to be made from insecurity, there will always be new trends, new products, and new ways to chase ‘perfection’.
The real question is: Will you play along?
So, What is the Real Secret to Beauty
Social media has reshaped how we view beauty, but at the end of the day, the most attractive thing is confidence.
You can follow trends, enhance what you love, or embrace what makes you different. The only thing that truly matters? Owning your look and not letting an app define your worth.
So, what do you think? Has social media made beauty standards better or worse? Drop your thoughts below.
