Actresses Who Don’t Support Photoshopping and Retouching

In Hollywood, there’s a lot of pressure to look flawless, which has made digitally altering photos for magazines and movie posters commonplace. However, many prominent actresses are now challenging this practice and advocating for more realistic beauty standards. They’ve spoken out against magazines and other publications for secretly changing their appearances – like making them look thinner or smoothing out wrinkles – without their consent. By refusing to allow these retouched images, they aim to promote a healthier perspective on body image and aging. Here’s a look at the stars who are leading the charge for more natural representation in the media.

Kate Winslet

As a film lover, I really admire Kate Winslet’s stance on authenticity. I read that she refused to let the ‘Mare of Easttown’ poster be photoshopped – she specifically wanted her wrinkles to show! Apparently, she even asked the director to put back footage where they’d tried to smooth out her stomach digitally. It’s something she’s been consistent about for years, including a no-retouching clause in her contracts. She feels strongly that to portray women realistically, you need to show the natural process of aging on screen, and I completely agree!

Zendaya

Zendaya criticized a magazine for heavily editing a photo of her, making her look much thinner than she is. She shared both the original and altered pictures online to show how much had been changed, explaining that these kinds of edits create unrealistic beauty standards, especially for young people. The magazine ultimately removed the edited photo and published the original after Zendaya spoke out. Her quick action brought attention to how often bodies are digitally altered in fashion magazines.

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley chose to pose topless for a photoshoot, but only if her body wasn’t digitally changed. She’d been frustrated for years by seeing her chest artificially enhanced in photos used for movies and magazines. She wanted the photoshoot to show her natural appearance, without any modifications. Knightley believes photos should represent reality, not an unrealistic ideal, and her decision started an important discussion about body image in Hollywood.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o spoke out against a magazine for digitally altering her hair in a photo. They smoothed her hair and removed her ponytail without her consent, seemingly to align with European beauty standards. Nyong’o was upset that the media continues to change features that are important to her identity and cultural background. She believes there’s still work to be done to overcome hidden biases in beauty photography and uses her voice to promote the beauty of natural hair.

Jamie Lee Curtis

As a film lover, I was so impressed by Jamie Lee Curtis in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once,’ and not just by her performance! She made a really powerful choice to appear as herself – no prosthetics, no camera tricks to hide her body. She even asked the crew not to try and slim her down! It’s amazing because she’s been speaking out against the pressure to look younger for years. She truly believes it’s important for women to see realistic portrayals of aging, and she’s constantly sharing unedited photos to prove that embracing natural changes is beautiful. It’s a really refreshing and inspiring stance, and it made her performance even more impactful, in my opinion.

Jameela Jamil

Jameela Jamil started the “I Weigh” movement to fight back against unrealistic beauty standards created by photo editing and diet culture. She often points out when celebrities and influencers secretly edit their photos. Jamil has also asked social media companies to stop advertising diet products to young people. She personally refuses to alter her appearance in photos, like lightening her skin or removing stretch marks. Her work centers on celebrating women for who they are and what they accomplish, rather than focusing on how they look.

Lili Reinhart

Lili Reinhart criticized a magazine for using editing software to make her waist and arms appear thinner in a photoshoot. She explained that the changes significantly altered her natural body shape. The ‘Riverdale’ star believes this kind of editing can negatively impact her fans’ body image and contribute to body dysmorphia. She often shares unedited photos on social media, showcasing her real skin and acne, and is urging the entertainment industry to embrace authenticity and stop unnecessarily altering people’s appearances.

Camila Mendes

Camila Mendes spoke out against a magazine for digitally altering her body in a photo. She was upset they made her look thinner by removing her natural curves, especially given her past struggles with an eating disorder. Mendes wants her fans to see her real body and is continuing to push for more body acceptance in Hollywood.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Priyanka Chopra now regrets promoting skin-lightening products and heavily edited photos early in her career. She’s become a strong voice for accepting natural skin tones and textures in media, and speaks out against the unrealistic beauty standards pushed by the entertainment industry. Chopra is committed to showing her authentic self in her current work, avoiding excessive photo editing, and believes it’s important for women to be represented truthfully, not erased by digital manipulation.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga used her awards speech to speak out against the unrealistic beauty standards created by digitally altering images. She encouraged everyone to reject the idea that they need to be flawless to be considered beautiful. Gaga has previously called out magazines for making her skin look unnaturally perfect, and she believes these kinds of images can negatively affect the mental health of her fans. She consistently advocates for artists to be portrayed more honestly and authentically.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence found it funny when she first saw her ads for a high-end fashion brand, as the photos didn’t look much like her. While she enjoys the use of Photoshop, she recognizes it can create an unrealistic image. More recently, she’s spoken out about the pressure women face to be a certain weight. Lawrence has made a point of not losing weight for roles, wanting to avoid promoting an unhealthy body type and instead portray a strong, healthy image.

Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts recently starred in a lingerie campaign that intentionally didn’t use any photo editing on its models. She posed for the ads without any digital changes to her appearance. While she was initially nervous about being shown unretouched on large billboards, she ultimately felt empowered by the experience and believes it’s important to change beauty standards. Roberts hopes this kind of campaign will help women feel more comfortable and confident in their own bodies.

Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley decided to stop wearing makeup to events as a way of challenging unrealistic beauty expectations. She once felt unrecognizable in a heavily edited magazine photo, which made her feel like she was being treated as an image rather than a person. Now, she prefers to appear naturally, hoping to show the difference between how celebrities are often presented and how they look in real life. Woodley wants to be open about the effort that goes into creating a red carpet look.

Ashley Benson

Ashley Benson spoke out about a ‘Pretty Little Liars’ promotional poster, pointing out how heavily it had been edited. She explained that she and the other actors had been made to look flawless, with no visible pores or imperfections. Benson wanted her younger fans to understand that these images weren’t realistic and that nobody actually looks that perfect. To counter these overly polished photos, she frequently shares more natural, unedited pictures of herself.

Troian Bellisario

Troian Bellisario backed up her co-star Ashley Benson in criticizing the extensive photoshopping on their show’s promotional posters. She questioned why the marketing team felt it necessary to change the actresses’ appearances so much. Having personally dealt with body image and mental health issues, Bellisario feels it’s important for young viewers to see realistic portrayals of women. She champions media that embraces imperfections instead of hiding them.

Lena Dunham

Lena Dunham gained attention when she allowed a fashion magazine to publish unretouched photos of her. She’s also shown how paparazzi photos are often edited, revealing common practices in the industry. As the creator of ‘Girls,’ Dunham frequently presented a realistic portrayal of her body on screen, avoiding flattering techniques. Despite facing criticism for her natural look, she consistently rejected traditional Hollywood beauty standards and continues to advocate for more diverse and realistic body representation on television.

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington was surprised to see a magazine cover featuring a heavily edited version of herself. While she was grateful for the cover, she said it didn’t look like her, noting that the editing altered her face and skin tone. Washington spoke with the magazine about the importance of showing authentic images and representing people truthfully, as she believes in seeing real portrayals of herself and others.

Melissa McCarthy

Melissa McCarthy was shocked to see a movie poster where her face and neck had been digitally altered to appear thinner. She playfully said she didn’t even recognize the person in the image! Known for advocating body positivity, McCarthy created her own clothing line to offer stylish choices for women of all sizes and consistently challenges the entertainment industry’s habit of concealing or changing larger bodies. She demonstrates that skill and beauty come in all shapes and sizes.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams asked for very little editing during a recent magazine photoshoot. She specifically requested the photographer leave her armpit hair untouched, wanting to normalize natural body hair and challenge beauty standards. This aligns with her previous choices to showcase natural skin texture and fine lines in photoshoots. McAdams feels the most striking images are authentic and truthfully represent the person in them.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett recently starred in a skincare campaign called “The Age of Intelligent Women” that showcased natural, unretouched photos. She appeared with minimal makeup, allowing her wrinkles and skin texture to be visible. Blanchett explained she wants to accept the natural changes that come with aging, believing that hiding these signs of life effectively erases a woman’s story. She continues to be an inspiring example of graceful aging in the public spotlight.

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren partnered with a leading beauty brand with one important request: they wouldn’t alter her appearance in any of the ads. She specifically wanted her wrinkles and age spots to be visible. Mirren has often spoken out against the entertainment industry’s focus on youth, arguing that older women aren’t shown enough in beauty advertising, and when they are, it’s often not realistic. Her work with the brand focuses on celebrating self-assurance at all stages of life.

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore appeared in the Pirelli Calendar with photos that weren’t digitally altered. Along with other actresses, she embraced a natural, emotional look instead of a traditionally glamorous one. Moore has criticized the phrase “aging gracefully,” believing it suggests aging needs to be corrected. She prefers to see aging as a natural evolution of a person’s character and inner self. The actress consistently chooses roles and public appearances that honestly reflect her age.

Salma Hayek Pinault

Salma Hayek often shares unfiltered selfies on social media, showing her natural grey hair and bare skin. She uses the hashtag #nomakeup to give her followers a glimpse of her authentic self. The actress has discussed the societal pressures to look young and dye grey hairs, and she actively chooses to embrace her natural appearance to inspire other women. Hayek believes true confidence comes from self-acceptance, not from trying to hide imperfections.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz wrote a book explaining the science behind aging and why it’s important to embrace it. She stepped away from acting and stopped following the strict beauty standards of Hollywood. Diaz has spoken out against the practice of heavily editing photos, arguing it makes women feel inadequate as they get older. Now, she focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle for long-term well-being, rather than just appearance. Her honest approach has resonated with fans who are tired of unrealistic beauty expectations.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore created her makeup line with a commitment to showcasing realistic beauty by using diverse models and avoiding digital alteration in her advertising. As an actress and talk show host, she believes makeup should enhance natural features, not hide them, and she often keeps her own styling simple to connect with viewers. Barrymore is a strong supporter of self-love and acceptance.

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson recently appeared on a magazine cover completely bare-faced, with no makeup or digital editing. She wanted to demonstrate that women can be beautiful without artificial enhancements. Throughout her career, Simpson has been heavily criticized for changes in her weight, and this photoshoot was a way for her to take control of how she’s perceived and feel confident in her own skin. She continues to openly share her personal health and body image journey with her followers.

Bella Thorne

Bella Thorne asked a men’s magazine to publish her photos unedited, wanting to be open about her acne and scars. She felt pressured by the industry’s constant use of Photoshop, which made her feel like she needed to appear flawless. By sharing raw, unedited pictures, she hoped to show everyone that it’s okay to have imperfections. Thorne continues to support honesty and transparency online.

Sarah Hyland

Sarah Hyland spoke out after a magazine digitally altered her photo to make her face appear fuller. She explained that she’d actually lost weight due to health problems and medication, and felt the editing hid her real experience. Hyland wanted to advocate for herself and others living with chronic illnesses. She regularly asks media outlets to accurately portray her health and appearance.

Florence Pugh

As a film lover, I really appreciate what Florence Pugh is doing online. She’s so refreshing! She regularly showcases real skin – texture, pores, everything – on Instagram, which is amazing. She’s also really vocal about how much pressure there is on actresses to lose weight for big roles, and she actively pushes back against that. I even read that she refused to cover up her acne on set sometimes, wanting to keep things authentic. She truly believes audiences connect with characters who look like real people, and honestly, I totally agree. It’s no surprise she’s become a Gen Z icon – her honesty is so relatable and inspiring!

Andie MacDowell

At the Cannes Film Festival, Andie MacDowell confidently showed off her natural gray hair, defying advice from her team who thought it was too early for her to go gray. She pointed out the double standard in Hollywood, where graying men are often admired, but women face pressure to stay colored. MacDowell shared that embracing her natural hair color makes her feel stronger and more genuine, and her decision has encouraged many other women to stop dyeing their hair.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson has stopped wearing makeup in public, including at fashion events, feeling it was time to let go of decades of pressure to look a certain way. The actress explained she wanted to embrace her natural face and move away from trying to fight the aging process. Her decision to appear without makeup at high-profile events received a lot of positive attention and is seen as part of a growing trend towards self-acceptance in the entertainment industry.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry often posts real, unfiltered photos of her workouts and downtime. She’s very open about experiencing menopause and the natural changes that come with it. Berry challenges the idea that a woman’s worth diminishes with age, choosing to prioritize strength and health over chasing a youthful appearance. She encourages her fans to live fully and embrace all phases of life with energy and enthusiasm.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross is a strong voice for embracing natural Black hair. She created her own haircare brand to cater to natural hair textures, which are often straightened in the media. She frequently challenges photographers who try to change her hair or body. Ross uses her influence to showcase the beauty of voluminous, curly hair, and she believes seeing authentic representation is empowering for women of color.

Viola Davis

As a film lover, I’ve been so inspired by Viola Davis’s decision to stop wearing wigs, both on the red carpet and in her roles. She’s talked about how freeing it felt to finally let go of the beauty standards Hollywood – particularly white Hollywood – had imposed on her. Honestly, she’s said she wishes she hadn’t felt pressured to hide her natural hair earlier in her career, and now she’s a huge advocate for authenticity. It really comes across in her performances – she brings this incredibly raw and genuine energy to everything she does. It’s powerful, and I hope it encourages other actresses to embrace their true selves too.

Daisy Ridley

Daisy Ridley recently shared her experiences with endometriosis and the resulting skin problems. She posted a picture of herself with acne cream, wanting to show people what things really look like behind the polished image we often see. The ‘Star Wars’ actress explained that social media often creates an unrealistic expectation of perfection, and she wants to be more open about her own skin struggles. Ridley wants her fans to remember that celebrities have the same insecurities as everyone else.

Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan specifically requested that her acne not be hidden during the filming of ‘Lady Bird.’ She collaborated with the director to prevent any digital smoothing of her skin in editing. Ronan wanted to portray a teenager realistically and thought showing genuine skin texture would be reassuring for young viewers. Her decision contributed to the film’s vulnerability and made it feel more authentic.

Chloë Grace Moretz

Chloë Grace Moretz spoke out against a movie poster for an animated film she starred in. The poster showed her character with a different body type – shorter and rounder – which the actress felt promoted harmful body shaming. She explained she hadn’t given her approval for the image. The public reaction was strong, and the movie studio ultimately removed the poster. Moretz continues to be a voice for realistic and positive body images in children’s media.

Eva Longoria

I love what Eva Longoria is doing! She’s been posting videos showing her natural roots, and it’s so refreshing. She’s really opening up about how much work goes into looking polished for events, showing us all the little tricks. It feels like she genuinely wants us to see that being a celebrity isn’t all glamour – it takes effort! Honestly, it’s amazing because it takes the pressure off us regular women to feel like we have to look perfect all the time without any effort. She’s so good at balancing that glamorous side with being totally real and relatable.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz has firmly told film studios she doesn’t want them to use digital effects to make her look younger. She’s proud of her age and feels her face reflects her life story, which she doesn’t want to hide. She wants to be authentic with her audience and avoid presenting a false image. Cruz is drawn to the style of European films, which often prioritize a natural look over artificial perfection, and continues to be celebrated for her natural beauty.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston has publicly criticized the way tabloids focus on women’s bodies, constantly speculating about pregnancy or weight. She’s spoken out against the pressure on actresses to look perfect and stay young, and refuses to let the media control how she feels about herself. Aniston encourages women to define beauty for themselves and wants society to value women for more than just their appearance.

Tell us in the comments which celebrity’s views on embracing natural beauty you connected with the most.

2026-02-05 13:20