Before & After: Woman is photoshopped in 25 different countries

The project shows just how much standards of beauty can differ from country to country.

Before & After: Woman is photoshopped in 25 different countries

A radio journalist named Esther Konig has come up with this very cool project, titled "Before & After". In an experiment designed to raise questions about whether there is such a thing as an ideal beauty, she had a picture of herself photoshopped in different countries around the world.

Esther sent this untouched photo of herself to 40 different artists in 25 countries from Pakistan to Serbia with only one request - "make me beautiful".

The original photo of Esther

While the quality of the photoshopping varies (some are truly awful), the results are a fascinating insight into how different countries (and people) perceive beauty.

On her website, Esther decribes her thoughts on her changed face:

"They are intriguing and insightful in their own right; each one is a reflection of both the personal and cultural concepts of beauty that pertain to their creator."

India

USA

Each country had a unique take on what makes someone beautiful. Some, like in the Philliipines and the US, drastically changed the photo, making Konig almost unrecognisable. Some artists changed her skin colour and hair-style, added make-up, jewellery and clothes and even changed her eye colour.

Morocco

Greece

As well as cultural differences, the project also highlights how photoshop can drastically change how a person looks. And that no matter how photoshopped you are, there's no such thing as an ideal beauty. It all depends on where you are.

Before and After in the Phillipines

As Esther says on her blog:

"Photoshop allows us to achieve our unobtainable standards of beauty, but when we compare those standards on a global scale, achieving the ideal remains all the more elusive."

You can see the full range of photos on Esther's website here

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Smartwatch with health app. Glowing neon icon on brick wall background Health watch: How much health data is healthy? 
Cork's wild salmon warrior Sally Ferns Barnes looks to the future Cork's wild salmon warrior Sally Ferns Barnes looks to the future
(C)2024 Disney. Disneyland Paris – Disneyland Hotel Re-Opening Watch: Iconic Disneyland Paris hotel re-opens after two year renovation
ieParenting Logo
Writers ieParenting

Our team of experts are on hand to offer advice and answer your questions here

Your digital cookbook

ieStyle Live 2021 Logo
ieStyle Live 2021 Logo

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trails

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Lifestyle
Newsletter

The best food, health, entertainment and lifestyle content from the Irish Examiner, direct to your inbox.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited