Influencers Show The Reality Behind Their Picture-Perfect Posts, And The Results Are Hilarious

Sara Horton | February 5, 2020 12:24 pm

It's not difficult to dive into a deep self-esteem crisis after scrolling through Instagram for a few hours. Beautiful people with perfect lives look back at you from the screen, just mocking your ordinary face and humdrum existence. Fortunately, though, there are some hilarious social media influencers out there who are not afraid to show us exactly what goes into all those picture-perfect posts. Read on to see the reality behind some top influencers' seemingly glamorous photoshoots, and be prepared to feel a lot better about yourself!

Foot Photography Is Apparently A Thing

feet pose
Twitter/@ViennaDoLL
Twitter/@ViennaDoLL

@ViennaDoLL is not afraid to show the "gritty underside" of modeling on her Twitter homepage. Many of her most popular tweets show before and after photos with the professional finished product versus the behind-the-scenes goofy takes.

You might guess that she has a photographer on-hand 24/7, but this picture tells a different story. Look at her amazing coordination as she photographs herself with her foot! Pro-tip: Scan your toe-print into your iPhone for a quick hands-free selfie!

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How A Real Woman Eats A Sundae

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ice cream honesty
Instagram/@karinairby
Instagram/@karinairby
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Karina Irby, owner/designer with Moana Bikini, clearly doesn't take herself too seriously. Her body-positive attitude is in plain sight on her Instagram where many of her photos are an unfiltered look into her everyday life. She feels it’s important as an influencer to show the reality and limitations that we all have, as well as the picture-perfect moments.

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Some internet trolls have given her heat for her unabashed perspective and to them, she quips: "my skin is just a three layer sack that holds all the good things together."

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Fallin' For Foliage

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leaves reality
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
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Kim from @the_truth_is_not_pretty offers her perspective as an Instagram model with fun tips for getting photographed, such as, "everyone has 'bad photos' we just choose the ones which look the best on social media in order to put out a good image of ourselves."

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She feels that people are too obsessed with living up to false realities that are presented on social media. Here, she shows us the unglamorous reality of getting a cute photograph while perched in a tree.

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For The Birds

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birds reality
Twitter/@ViennaDoLL
Twitter/@ViennaDoLL
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@ViennaDoLL is back with an important demonstration of the reality of working with wild birds. The white dove is known throughout the world as a symbol of peace and love, going all the way back to biblical times with an important role in the story of Noah's ark.

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But this bird is likely a run-of-the-mill white street pigeon that feels like their personal space is being invaded. From the bird’s perspective, Ms. Doll might resemble a larger pigeon invading its territory.

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Sleep Tight...

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sleeping with an animal
Instagram/geraldinewest_
Instagram/geraldinewest_
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German Instagram model Geraldine West likes to skewer the perceptions of online personas by showing the crushing reality of everyday life. Here, she tackles the unflattering topic of drooling. Drooling (or sialorrhea for you science nerds) is a completely normal bodily function and often happens at night while we are sleeping.

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Ms. West also looks like she has experienced some degree of night sweats (or hyperhidrosis – there will be a test later). But wait… the pug's eyes are open. Perhaps that isn't drool or sweat at all, but something the dog did. Let's hope not.

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Ice Cream Side-Eye

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freezer reality
Instagram/@rianne.meijer
Instagram/@rianne.meijer
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Dutch Instagram influencer Rianne Meijer seems to live the life that we all dream of, traveling the world with a cute pup under her arm and taking pampered bubble-baths in penthouse suites. But she is not afraid to show her followers that she's just a normal girl who knows which side is her good side.

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Here we see that Meijer has those off days just like the rest of us... days where you need to clean out the ice cream freezer at your local bodega and go into a self-induced snack coma.

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Frequent Flea Miles

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pug truth
Instagram/@pug_the_best
Instagram/@pug_the_best
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This pug fantasized about jetting away from the cold and dreary winter doldrums of their hometown to have a vacation adventure on the sunny shores of Ibiza, but alas, it was all just a dream.

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In reality, this pug is in charge of keeping all their roommates' mom-jeans dried and folded. However, this pug does not WASH the household mom-jeans. That responsibility belongs to a golden retriever that's studying business at the local university.

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Waking Up Is Hard To Do

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waking up first thing in the morning
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
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Kim from @the_truth_is_not_pretty is back with a comparison of how you wish you looked in the morning versus how you really feel. Benjamin Franklin famously began his morning routine at 4 a.m. and you can imagine how annoying he must have been about it.

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"Good morrow! It appears that I have invented bifocals in my dreams! Didst thou sleep well?" We can all agree that morning people are the absolute worst.

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Don't Lean Back...

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wall reality
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
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Kim from @the_truth_is_not_pretty would like us to know that what you see is not always real. Here we see what goes on behind the scenes to create the appearance of an effortless pose.

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It takes two photographer's assistants using all of their strength (just kidding, Kim) to keep the model perched on the wall with the illusion of relaxed good times. This shot also gives you a pretty good idea of how a Muppet operates.

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Allergies Can Really Ruin A Shoot

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spring reality
Instagram/@geraldinewest_
Instagram/@geraldinewest_
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Geraldine West would like to warn everyone that there is a strange lady in the park where she was doing a photo shoot the other day. The lady appears to be sick and is wearing sweatpants. If you see this woman, do not approach her as she may be dangerous and about to sneeze.

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In reality, Ms. West would like us to know that allergies are not pretty and that it is nearly impossible to take a nice photo while posing with a Kleenex.

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Big Sunglasses Can't Hide Everything

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chins reality
Instagram/@rianne.meijer
Instagram/@rianne.meijer
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International Instagram model Rianne Meijer is showing off her famous impression of the human thumb. Standards of beauty are fluid and have changed throughout history. Beyond that, it is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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It is very possible that one day you might read an article on beautiful self-deprecating models' before-and-after photos where the first photo is cited as being weird and hilarious while the second photo is used to sell lipstick.

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Bathing Beauty

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splash reality
Twitter/@ViennaDoLL
Twitter/@ViennaDoLL
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@ViennaDoLL shows us that many times when you see a happy swimsuit model posing in a pool, that the water may be very cold. It is often the case that models are asked to put themselves into otherwise uncomfortable situations just to get that magic shot.

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It also appears that she is being attacked by a swimmer's cap and goggles. Really though, it is refreshing to see people who you might expect to be vain or self-important who don’t take themselves too seriously.

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Working Out Is Effortless!

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Jogging reality
Instagram/@geraldinewest_
Instagram/@geraldinewest_
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Geraldine West wants you to know that she is a sweaty, unkempt, flawed human being who can also take a pretty good picture. In the first image, we see what might pass for a stock photo of a young woman taking charge of her life and getting in shape!

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But we all probably relate more to the second photo, exhausted with steamed up glasses and dirty hair. And don't you hate it when all three pairs of your earbuds fail at the same time?

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Rise And Shine With The Dog

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morning reality
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
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Kim from @the_truth_is_not_pretty knows the deal. If you are in bed with a dog, you are more likely to be finishing a bag of Doritos than you are to be wistfully enjoying a cup of hot brew.

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It is also interesting that the view from the window was changed from a tree's canopy into a cloudy sunrise sky. How can we be sure that there is really a dog in the shot at all?

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Instagram Packing Vs. Reality

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suitcase reality
Instagram/@geraldinewest_
Instagram/@geraldinewest_
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Geraldine West offers this interesting commentary on packing for a trip. Packing a pineapple for your vacation might be a little redundant, especially if you are visiting a tropical location. But maybe she is packing for a business trip to Canada, or someplace where pineapples are difficult to come by.

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The alternative, a pug, makes sense for any trip. Name a situation that isn't made better by having a pug in your suitcase.

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Not Afraid To Show Her Natural Beauty

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braids
Instagram/trishapaytas
Instagram/trishapaytas
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Media personality Trisha Paytas is not afraid to live out loud, and with this Instagram post, she addresses the difference between social media reality versus, well, reality. The modeling photo is nearly unrecognizable as the same person from the candid.

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In 2014, Paytas published a book of useful advice for women and teens, Curvy and Loving It, where she writes, "Real women are happy, fat, skinny, healthy, unhealthy, dumb, and smart."

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Just Hanging Out Of A Car, Naturally

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car reality
Instagram/@rianne.meijer
Instagram/@rianne.meijer
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Rianne Meijer once again shows us the difference between a lifestyle that is being sold to a consumer versus a real person's experience. Do you think leaning backward out of a car window, screaming with abandon into the sky, looks like the ultimate expression of youthful exuberance?

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In reality, you would need someone inside the car to hold your feet so you don’t fall out and need a toothbrush to get the insects out of your teeth. The real punchline is that the car is obviously parked. Once you realize that she is not speeding down the road, it all seems kinda silly.

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Nature's Beauty

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autumn reality
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
Instagram/@the_truth_is_not_pretty
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Kim from @the_truth_is_not_pretty wants you to know that while it can make a pretty picture, nature is pretty gross. First of all, there's a lot of dirt outside. If it has rained recently, then the dirt will turn into mud. Also, there is no way to control the temperature when you are outdoors, so you might be too hot or too cold.

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And finally, dead, wet leaves are pretty gross. There is a reason the trees get rid of them every year.

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After The Excitement Wears Off

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rollercoaster
Twitter/@ViennaDoLL
Twitter/@ViennaDoLL
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@ViennaDoLL was optimistic before embarking on this roller coaster ride, but after it was over it appears that she might need to spend some time close to a nearby garbage can – just in case.

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It also looks like this amusement park ride gives you a haircut at some point, maybe during the part where you speed through the tunnel toward the end. At any rate, she does not look pleased.

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Her Perfect Look Is Gone... With The Wind

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windy day reality
Instagram/@rianne.meijer
Instagram/@rianne.meijer
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Rianne Meijer looks like she does not have a care in the world, turning heads in her stylish dress on campus or at a church or wherever she is. But look again! All it takes is one small gust of wind and the hours spent applying your lipstick just right and getting your hair styled perfectly are all out the window.

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It is important to understand that photography is simply another form of art and as Leon Trotsky once said, "art is not a mirror to hold up to society, but a hammer with which to shape it."