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'Photoshopping Real Women Into Cover Models' Produces Some Unsettling Results

This Is What Happens When 'Real Women' Are Photoshopped
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"This is how I've always wanted to see myself. But now that I see it, I'm questioning why I ever wanted to look like that."

That's what one woman said after viewing an image of herself that had been so heavily edited that she hardly recognized herself.

The team at BuzzFeed invited four women to participate in a professional photoshoot, then asked a Photoshop expert to make them look like "cover models." And though the end results were conventionally "beautiful," the women who modeled were unnerved by the results.

"I think because I know myself, this looks really... different," one participant said.

The women all agreed that the images didn't represent their true selves -- the editing had removed the quirks and imperfections that were important to their identities.

"I like my freckles, I think they add character," one woman said. "And that fact that they're gone... I don't even know who that is."

Though digital editing is commonplace in the fashion industry, it's hardly necessary. When un-retouched images emerge, they tend to be gorgeous anyway. Women's magazine Verily has pledged never to Photoshop its models -- and the results are incredibly gorgeous. The magazine's editor Ashley Crouch told The Huffington Post: "the unique features of women, whether crows feet, freckles, or a less-than-rock-hard body, are aspects that contribute to women's beauty and should be celebrated -- not shamed, changed or removed."

We couldn't agree more.

Watch the video above or head over to BuzzFeed for the full story.

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Before You Go

Celebrities Who Have Spoken Against Photoshop
Lady Gaga(01 of09)
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Lady Gaga has been the focus of a fair number of Photoshop scandals. The singer spoke out about the egregious use of Photoshop at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards, in 2013. Ironically, it was her photo on the cover of Glamour magazine that she specifically spoke against. "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 explained. She called for young people to "fight back against the forces that make them feel like they're not beautiful" and cited unreasonable beauty standards printed on magazine covers as an offender. She elaborated, "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." (credit:Glamour Magazine)
Beyoncé Knowles(02 of09)
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Beyoncé is known for her beautiful curves and toned body, so she was incredibly upset when H&M attempted to alter her image. The singer modeled various pieces for the brand's swimwear collection and refused to be enhanced in any way. "When Beyoncé found out they had edited the way her body really looked, she hit the roof. She’s a true diva and was furious that she had been given such a snubbing. Her people refused to give the pictures the green light so H&M were forced to use the originals," a source recalled to The Sun. (credit:H&M)
Kate Winslet(03 of09)
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Despite her numerous run–ins with Photoshopping, Kate Winslet is a role model for positive body image. Thus, she likely felt compelled to speak out when she was edited to a drastically reduced size on this 2003 GQ cover. "The retouching is excessive. I do not look like that and more importantly I don't desire to look like that," she clarified in regard to the cover image. The actress made sure that the world knew she was happy with her body and didn't condone the alterations. She explained, "I can tell you they've reduced the size of my legs by about a third. For my money it looks pretty good the way it was taken." (credit:GQ Magazine)
Keira Knightley (04 of09)
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In this promotional poster for "King Arthur," Knightley's chest is drastically enhanced from the original image. The actress spoke up, saying: "Those things certainly weren't mine." Reportedly, Knightley signed off on the doctored images at the time and only complained that her new assets weren't perky enough. She has since told producers of various projects that she refuses to be altered in any way for promotional imagery. (credit:Touchstone Pictures)
Ashley Benson & Troian Bellisario(05 of09)
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The two "Pretty Little Liars" stars spoke up when they came across this poster for the show. Ashley Benson posted the picture to her Instagram account and wrote, "Saw this floating around....hope it's not the poster. Our faces in this were from 4 years ago.....and we all look ridiculous. Way too much Photoshop. We all have flaws. No one looks like this. It's not attractive." Bellisario agreed with her blond co-star and posted the same image to her own account. She captioned the photo: "Wow @itsashbenzo I couldn't agree more. Very cool concept as always. But aren't we attractive enough women as we are? Why can't we just look like us. Once." (credit:Instagram)
Coco Rocha(06 of09)
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High-fashion supermodel Coco Rocha sets boundaries as to how much skin she is willing to show in her photographs. Let's put it this way: she isn't going to pose nude or model lingerie. So when editors Photoshopped clothing off of her body, she was outraged. The beauty posted to her blog: "For my recent Elle Brazil cover shoot I wore a body suit under a sheer dress, but recently discovered that the body suit was Photoshopped out to give the impression that I am showing much more skin than I actually was or am comfortable with. This was specifically against my expressed verbal and written direction. I’m extremely disappointed that my wishes and contract were ignored." (credit:Elle Magazine)
Brad Pitt(07 of09)
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Brad Pitt has not only rejected the use of Photoshop, but elected to reveal the flaws in his physical appearance. The actor chose to be photographed by Chuck Close for this cover of W magazine. The photographer is well–known for taking pictures that humanize the subject and expose intricate flaws and features. "You can’t be the fair-haired young boy forever. Maybe a photograph of him with his crow’s-feet and furrowed brow is good for him," Close said of Pitt. (credit:W Magazine)
Gisele Bündchen (08 of09)
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Gisele Bündchen is no stranger to the very prevalent photo editing in the fashion industry, but she is honest about preferring natural images. The model worked with creative director Johan Lindeberg on a campaign for BLK DNM because he wanted to highlight her natural look. "I love his approach because I feel like women should be really real and raw and it doesn't really happen anymore [in fashion photographs]. I love that feeling of, you know, we are women, we are so different, our imperfections are what make us unique and beautiful," she explained of Lindeberg. "He gets that. He's not trying to retouch you or put a pretty light on you." (credit:Getty Images)
Kim Kardashian(09 of09)
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Kim Kardashian is constantly being scrutinized for the photos she posts on social media by people saying the images must be Photoshopped. The star often remains quiet but has recently spoken out about the negative effects of image editing and the potential inspiration of raw imagery. The reality star posted this photo of herself and Blac Chyna on her Instagram account. When critics started accusing her of having manipulated her curvy form, Kardashian turned to Twitter. "It sucks when people make up surgery or Photoshop lies when I am so disciplined & work so hard! Just trying to motivate others & show anyone struggling with weight they can totally achieve whatever they want if they are dedicated!" she wrote. (credit:Instagram )
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