“Pretty Little Liars” star recently challenged the way we look at “perfected” photos in magazines. Specifically pointing out when Photoshop becomes more dominant than being simply natural. Troian Bellisario posted on her Instagram about the prevalence of covering up flaws in women’s magazines…that in itself seems flawed to cover up natural beauty. Magazines, like Seventeen and Intelligent Life, have put un-Photoshopped models on the cover and making “No-Photoshop” pledges.
GQ magazine recently did a photoshoot with the stars of “Pretty Little Liars” and Bellisario had something pretty powerful to say about the Photoshop controversy on Instagram.
This is what Bellisario had to say about it on her Instagram:
“So by now you have seen many a shot from #GQ and many people have said that we were photoshopped… OF COURSE WE WERE! that’s a very specific type of photo shoot. And looking very blown out and perfected was obviously what they were looking for. Great. Cool. As long as we acknowledge how it was achieved so we know it’s not real. Here’s some behind the scenes of my body the way it is and was on the day. I’m not mad at how these pictures turned out, the girls and I had an absolute blast. More fun than we’ve had on a photoshoot in a while, and I think you can see that in our eyes and smiles. But it’s the same everywhere. It’s the same way on the posters of our show and even in women’s magazines. This industry seems to invest more in perfection than in flaw. But flaw and individuality, to me, are what make a human being interesting, they make our stories worth telling. (Unfortunately the flaws don’t usually sell products or magazines) I’m proud of my body and the way it looks because @themarkwildman kicks my butt in aerial. But my hips and thighs are a part of me (even though they magically weren’t in some shots!) I get those things from my momma. And I’m happy To shake what my momma gave me.”
Bellisario then posted this photo saying that whether they were photoshopped or not, she still gets to “work with three of the most gorgeous women on the planet.” As a side note, she also pointed out gorgeous “without hair and makeup as well”
Bellisario, 28, has been playing the role of Spencer Hastings in ABCFamily’s “Pretty Little Liars” for four years now. She and the rest of the girls have been working by each other’s side the entire time. Why should really any magazine feel the need to relentlessly photoshop models and stars? As Bellisario pointed out on Instagram, “it doesn’t sell.”
I think it would be far more interesting to show naturalness and individuality, as Bellisario points out, in magazines. What could it hurt? It seems like it would be a pretty big step in the right direction if more magazines just showed people as they are.
What do you think about the Photoshop controversy? Photoshop or not?
Read more: ‘Pretty Little Liars’ #FatalFinale Leaves Spencer Arrested and Mona Dead