Celebrities use photoshop just like print media always used photo editing to make their perfect model cover girls even more perfect. That's not some major "shatter the industry" sort of deal like it was years ago.
Current celebrity trends and the ease of use of new technology mean we all go about our day sort of assuming all celeb images are digitally altered in some way. Even the non-professional ones they post on social media.
Recently, Kendall Jenner dropped a few pictures and a video as a sort of "behind the scenes" from a photoshoot. The shoot, for sister Kim Kardashian West's "Valentine's SKIMS," featured Kendall in something called a micro-thong.
The lingerie covers very little, even for underwear.
Kendall Jenner is undeniably beautiful, her career as a model has been more successful than most, her social media is constantly filled with fans singing her praises and she is constantly asked to promote products.
People love looking at her.
But people did not love looking at her in the Skims shoot. It's not that she wasn't gorgeous, it's that she was too gorgeous and it made a lot of people feel bad about themselves.
One shot in particular, a full-front shot, had people reeling in self loathing.
me after seeing kendall jenner's recent insta post: https://t.co/LPDBEmIUAn— crucio on u (@crucio on u)1613210557.0
Me debating if I should ever eat again after seeing Kendall Jenner https://t.co/lQvVdig82Q— p (@p)1613213067.0
i wanna love my body but i keep seeing the pic of kendall jenner— taiy x (@taiy x)1613292427.0
Do y’all ever see a photo of Kendall Jenner and immediately want to throw up whatever your last meal was bc same— Hannah Jenkins (@Hannah Jenkins)1613228931.0
seeing kendall jenner’s most recent insta post mood board https://t.co/aoZUuMH3ov— dirty little poopoo church mouse (@dirty little poopoo church mouse)1613151766.0
Kendall Jenner just singlehandedly made me so insecure from just one post :) I’m fragile https://t.co/0Xu92gK3Pr— kaelyn (@kaelyn)1613208482.0
That picture of Kendall Jenner really had my eating disorder like https://t.co/uDimlnV2VT— Annabelle (@Annabelle)1613298882.0
Me @ at my body after Kendall Jenner’s insta posts. https://t.co/toydNRA71w— 𝐫 𝐡 𝐢 𝐦 𝐚 𝐫 𝐢 𝐞 𝐞 (@𝐫 𝐡 𝐢 𝐦 𝐚 𝐫 𝐢 𝐞 𝐞)1613167178.0
But the reality is, Kendall Jenner is a supermodel with a fashion catwalk body. Her bio lists her height as 5'10" and her weight as 119 lbs.—she's extremely tall and slim of build.
As the insecurities and self loathing (and in some cases talk of self harm) poured onto social media, people tried to combat it by reminding the world that "THE PIC" is very likely not what Kendall Jenner actually looks like.
Digital editing, lighting, crash diets, tensed muscles, exhaling to reduce torso size, makeup artists and more all go into creating these perfect mini moments.
Idk who needs to hear this but stop comparing yourself to Kendall Jenner- she has money, surgery, lighting, photogr… https://t.co/QHjYMs6gBq— T A Y L O R M U I R (@T A Y L O R M U I R)1613212734.0
Yes Kendall Jenner is stunning but let’s not forget she’s a billionaire, and probably has a five star chef to prepa… https://t.co/w1CPrzFtG0— r a c h (@r a c h)1613245657.0
Kendall Jenner is gorgeous. Of course she is. But she’s also worth millions & has endless access to personal traine… https://t.co/6Ai4AsiIs6— claire. (@claire.)1613233457.0
it’s not body shaming to tell ppl that kendall is photoshopped in those pictures, like yes she is sexy but she also… https://t.co/QuORMp9ui9— 𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑎 (@𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑎)1613308674.0
there’s nothing wrong w photoshopping ur images or getting plastic surgery if ur upfront n honest that it is not wh… https://t.co/XvmaoCp5ZS— 𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑎 (@𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑎)1613308675.0
@HopelesslyLola @sophxthompson Kendall is obviously beautiful, but it’s obvious that the second photo is edited to… https://t.co/qph6g2T6gZ— Facebymalin (@Facebymalin)1613320180.0
Friendly reminder that even Kendall Jenner herself doesn’t look like that. And no amount of dieting or exercise wil… https://t.co/yWs1wff3v6— lucy (@lucy)1613214648.0
Ok I’m just gonna say it. No woman’s nether region EVER LOOKS LIKE THAT. It gives both men and women a false sense… https://t.co/nlmYgthrmT— Just call me Eva (@Just call me Eva)1613269351.0
Even Kendall Jenner doesn’t look like Kendall Jenner If u think the Kardashians look that way naturally and not as… https://t.co/1ZlBD1HCjh— ♡ egg ♡ (@♡ egg ♡)1613241232.0
kendall jenner is stunning but this latest photoshoot has been photoshopped & yes you can photoshop videos too as t… https://t.co/x0aPQ8nYRX— Sue Grace (@Sue Grace)1613247081.0
Just gonna put a reminder out there to all the ladies....or people who identify as whatever. Please don’t compare… https://t.co/JRc0UyndTJ— Toby Fewings (@Toby Fewings)1613224178.0
These sorts of reactions have been behind calls to minimize or eliminate digital editing in these arenas—or to at least label when and how an image was manipulated.
Some people said they felt like the images should be removed from social media for promoting poor and unrealistic beauty standards.
Others came to Jenner's defense, essentially stating it's her body and she can shape it however she wants. How people react to it is their problem, not hers.