Celebs Who Are Challenging Beauty Standards By Sharing Their ‘Imperfect’ Photos

Celebrities and people who are living in the public eye are almost always under scrutiny by the media, people online, and of course, their own insecurities.

Some celebs are sharing their straight-up unfiltered, unedited photos to embrace their natural beauty in all its glory, reminding us that beauty does not come in one shape or size.

Demi Lovato Is CelluLIT

Demi Lovato shared this stunning bikini photo along with the caption: “This is my biggest fear. A photo of me in a bikini unedited. And guess what, it’s CELLULIT!!!!”

Demi Lovato in leopard-print bikini
Photo Credit: @ddlovato / Instagram
Photo Credit: @ddlovato / Instagram

They followed up with the hashtags #nationalcelulliteday and #celluLIT. Demi knows there’s nothing wrong with being confident.

Amy Schumer Sharing Her Postpartum Recovery

Amy Schumer has never been one to shy away from talking about the realities of being body-shamed.

Amy Schumer and son Gene
Photo Credit: @amyschumer / Instagram
Photo Credit: @amyschumer / Instagram

She shared this intimate photo of her newborn son Gene sleeping with her as she recovers postpartum. New moms everywhere could relate to this moment.

Jennifer Garner’s Makeup-Free Moments

Jennifer Garner knows how to rock a red carpet for a film premiere, but she also knows how to nail a makeup-free selfie for her 49th birthday.

Jennifer Garner selfie at sunset
Photo Credit: @jennifer.garner / Instagram
Photo Credit: @jennifer.garner / Instagram

There is no editing to remove her natural laugh lines or forehead lines, or the redness on her cheek. She’s all natural and glowing!

Mindy Kaling And Her Eyebrows Selfie

Mindy Kaling says, “You must love me with my brow tint on if you truly love me,” and she’s not wrong!

Mindy Kaling wearing eyebrow tint
Photo Credit: @mindykaling / Instagram
Photo Credit: @mindykaling / Instagram

Sometimes you just need to laugh about how ridiculous your beauty treatments look.

A Power Couple Who Do Their Skin Care Together

As it turns out, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom practice great skin care regimens and thorough tooth brushing.

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom brushing teeth
Photo Credit: @katyperry / Instagram
Photo Credit: @katyperry / Instagram

Perry shared this photo of the two rocking zit spot treatments while scrubbing their teeth and they have never seemed more relatable.

Lizzo Is The Unofficial Body Positivity Queen

If there is one woman out there who isn’t afraid to show off what it means to have curves, stretch marks, cellulite, and a natural body, it’s Lizzo.

Lizzo poses in bikini
Photo Credit: @lizzobeeating / Instagram
Photo Credit: @lizzobeeating / Instagram

In a post shared to celebrate her birthday, she said, “I wanna give y’all this unedited selfie.. now normally I would fix my belly and smooth my skin but baby I wanted to show you how I do it au natural.”

Kristen Bell Says She’s Always Had A Lazy Eye And Always Will

Kristen Bell shared this up-close-and-personal selfie to her Instagram where she explained that her hair is the result of wearing braids under a wig for a film.

Kristen Bell showing off natural hair and lazy eye
Photo Credit: @kristenanniebell / Instagram
Photo Credit: @kristenanniebell / Instagram

The part that people really resonated with was how she revealed, “In addition, yes. I am slightly cross-eyed. Always have been, always will be.”

Keke Palmer’s Skin Battle

Keke Palmer revealed her long-term struggle with polycystic ovarian syndrome which she says caused her acne to get “so bad” that people she worked with offered to pay for treatments.

Keke Palmer unfiltered close-up of her face with uneven skin
Photo Credit: @keke / Instagram
Photo Credit: @keke / Instagram

She shared this raw selfie and said, “I’m not afraid to show myself to the world and you shouldn’t be either.”

Chrissy Teigen’s Postpartum Journey

Chrissy Teigen gave fans a rare and emotional glimpse inside her postpartum life after a painful miscarriage.

Chrissy Teigen postpartum selfie
Photo Credit: @chrissyteigen / Instagram
Photo Credit: @chrissyteigen / Instagram

She shared a photo wearing a form-fitting dress and said, “Even though I’m no longer pregnant, every glance in the mirror reminds me. And I have no idea why I still have this bump, honestly. It’s frustrating.” Bodies don’t bounce back overnight, and that’s okay.

Ashley Tisdale In The Buff

Ashley Tisdale is also on a postpartum journey after giving birth to her daughter.

Ashley Tisdale bathtub photo
Photo Credit: @ashleytisdale / Instagram
Photo Credit: @ashleytisdale / Instagram

She shared this all-natural bath time selfie to show off her makeup-free skin and natural locks.

Tracee Ellis Ross’ Natural “Cloud Hair”

Tracee Ellis Ross is hilarious, brilliant, and absolutely not shying away from her natural hair texture.

Tracee Ellis Ross natural hair
Photo Credit: @traceeellisross / Instagram
Photo Credit: @traceeellisross / Instagram

She captioned this selfie “CLOUD HEAD” and is totally rocking her all-natural hair volume.

Ashley Graham Embracing Her Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Ashley Graham is a supermodel and now a super mom.

Ashley Graham stretch marks postpartum
Photo Credit: @ashleygraham / Instagram
Photo Credit: @ashleygraham / Instagram

She has never held back when it comes to embracing her natural curves, so it wasn’t out of character for the model to share this picture of her stretch marks post-pregnancy.

Kesha’s Telling Herself It’s Time To Love Her Freckles

Any child that grew up with freckles knows that other kids can be pretty mean about them (for no good reason).

Kesha selfie with freckles
Photo Credit: @iiswhoiis / Instagram
Photo Credit: @iiswhoiis / Instagram

Kesha shared this up-close selfie to say that she’s going to be embracing her natural freckles for the rest of the summer. No more concealer!

Lady Gaga Goes Bare-Faced

Lady Gaga is well-known for her extravagant makeup looks and over-the-top style.

Lady Gaga in a makeup-free selfie
Photo Credit: @ladygaga / Instagram
Photo Credit: @ladygaga / Instagram

She ditched her usual glam for this dressed-down selfie that reveals her natural hair color, eyelashes, and bare skin.

Gabrielle Union-Wade Smiling For Short Hair

Gabrielle Union-Wade marked the location on this photo as “Short Hair Don’t Care.”

Gabrielle Union-Wade smiling in selfie
Photo Credit: @gabunion / Instagram
Photo Credit: @gabunion / Instagram

She was feeling her own power after getting a big chop and shared this makeup-free, smiling moment to let people know that she loves her natural look.

JVN Is The Inspiration We All Need

If anyone can preach self-love, it’s Queer Eye king Jonathan Van Ness.

Jonathan Van Ness posing in ocean
Photo Credit: @jvn / Instagram
Photo Credit: @jvn / Instagram

He works hard to stay fit and live a healthy lifestyle, but JVN is the first to admit that doesn’t always look like washboard abs and vegan diets. He loves his body and is proud to show it off.

Gaga Snaps Her Stretch Marks

Mother Monster strikes again!

Lady Gaga taking selfie in car
Photo Credit: @ladygaga / Instagram
Photo Credit: @ladygaga / Instagram

Lady Gaga was feeling herself when she shared this car selfie, featuring faint stretch marks visible on her breasts. Instead of editing them out, she hit post for the people, and we are here for it.

Danielle Brooks Says Wear A Bikini If You Want To

Actress Danielle Brooks has long been an advocate for the body positivity movement.

Danielle Brooks in red bikini on beach
Photo Credit: @daniebb3 / Instagram
Photo Credit: @daniebb3 / Instagram

Her message basically comes down to the saying “you do you.” Meaning if you want to rock a bikini at the beach, go ahead and do it!

Halsey Thinking About Their Freckles

Halsey uploaded this super-close selfie to share their freckles with their fans.

Halsey freckles close-up
Photo Credit: @iamhalsey / Instagram
Photo Credit: @iamhalsey / Instagram

The picture was taken so close to their face that it also lets people see their natural pores, eyebrow hairs, and of course, all the freckles. No filter happening here!

Bekah Martinez Is Embracing Her Leg Hair

Bekah Martinez made a name for herself in The Bachelor universe but continued making headlines for her choice to embrace her natural body hair.

Bekah Martinez posing outside a mansion
Photo Credit: @bekah / Instagram
Photo Credit: @bekah / Instagram

She began embracing her natural hair growth not long after her rise to fame on The Bachelor and has since become a bit of an advocate for women owning their body hair.

Bekah Martinez (Again Because She’s Flaunting It)

In 2019 Martinez shared that “I went to a red carpet event without shaving my legs!”

Bekah Martinez Instagram photo
Photo Credit: @bekah / Instagram
Photo Credit: @bekah / Instagram

She further admits, “I stopped shaving my legs and armpits about a year ago as a practice of self-love. I grew up HATING the hair on my body.” Not anymore!

The Resemblance Is Uncanny

Isla Fisher knows that taking yourself too seriously is a dangerous trap to fall into.

Isla Fisher picture beside horse yelling
Photo Credit: @islafisher / Instagram
Photo Credit: @islafisher / Instagram

She’s not playing the usual social media game of good angles and perfect selfies, but instead, making fun of herself in the best way possible.

Nothing Better Than Sweat Pants At Home

Some celebrities want us to think that they live in designer clothing 24/7 and parade around the world.

Rebel Wilson in a track suit at home relaxing
Photo Credit: @rebelwilson / Instagram
Photo Credit: @rebelwilson / Instagram

Rebel Wilson, on the other hand, uploaded this picture with the caption “I’m most comfy at home in sweats.” So are we, Rebel, so are we.

Amy Shumer Shares A Hospital Selfie

Amy Shumer is never shy about discussing the realities of being a mother who had a complicated pregnancy journey.

Amy Shumer endometriosis diagnosis selfie from Instagram
Photo Credit: @AmyShumer / Instagram
Photo Credit: @AmyShumer / Instagram

She shared this personal photo from a hospital bathroom during an appointment to diagnose her endometriosis.

Will Smith Is Ready To Get Back In Shape

Quarantine hit everybody hard, including everyone’s favorite Fresh Prince turned action hero, Will Smith.

Will Smith quarantine body
Photo Credit: @willsmith / Instagram
Photo Credit: @willsmith / Instagram

Smith uploaded this video to his Instagram while vowing to get in the best shape of his life.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Lourdes Leon, daughter to pop queen Madonna, has inherited her mom’s notoriety in certain ways.

Lourdes Leon and Madonna pose for photo at public event
Photo Credit: @madonna / Instagram
Photo Credit: @madonna / Instagram

One thing that always seems to always have people chatting is Lourdes’s choice not to shave her body hair. She is proud to flaunt her natural hair growth and doesn’t care what anyone thinks— it’s a wonder where she gets that from.

Dua Lips With A Fresh Faced Selfie

The usual smoke and mirrors of a snazzy celebrity Instagram selfie are nowhere to be found here.

Dua Lipa low angle selfie
Photo Credit: @dualipa / Instagram
Photo Credit: @dualipa / Instagram

Dua Lipa shared this up-close selfie from a low angle looking bored and fresh out of bed. We love to see a relatable pop star.

Winnie Harlow Doesn’t Let Her Vitiligo Define Her

Winnie Harlow is a Canadian supermodel who has shot to fame in the world of runway fashion.

Winnie Harlow poolside selfie
Photo Credit: @winnieharlow / Instagram
Photo Credit: @winnieharlow / Instagram

She is a well-known advocate for dismantling beauty standards that previously kept people with her skin condition (vitiligo) excluded from the world of high fashion.

Car Delevigne’s Brows Mean Business

Cara Delevigne loves to challenge all sorts of standards.

Cara Delevigne no filter, no makeup selfie, wild eyes
Photo Credit: @caradelevigne / Instagram
Photo Credit: @caradelevigne / Instagram

She frequently uploads less-than-flattering photos of herself, perhaps like this makeup-free one, to remind people on social media not to take themselves, or their idols, too seriously.

Lil Nax X Rocking A Gown

Lil Nas X would smash apart every set-in-stone stereotype out there if he could.

Lil Nas X wearing violet gown on red carpet
Photo Credit @lilnasx / Instagram
Photo Credit @lilnasx / Instagram

He’s starting by doing things like rocking brilliant gowns on red carpets and embracing his sexuality in the public eye. Challenging gender norms and homosexual biases are basically his things now.