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Viral TikTok Calls Out Fitness Photoshoots Over What Happens Behind The Scenes

By now, most of us know everything we see on the internet — or in advertisements — is fake.

We've learned to spot a lot of the retouching giveaways, like warped backgrounds or fake event pictures. But now, TikTok user Jess Quinn (@jessicaemilyquinn is exposing just how fake the pictures we see are — before they're even taken.

Jess' TikTok is pretty illuminating.

"This is the behind-the-scenes of many photoshoots. I know Victoria’s Secret used to do the same to create cleavage."

I distinctly remember never believing Victoria's Secret ads for that very reason.

This is dangerous, though.

"And people then see those photos feel insecure, compare their bodies, and go get surgery."

No offense to people like Kim Kardashian, but there is a certain beauty standard that padding and the Kardashians have set that people will risk their lives to achieve. And it's just not right.

In case it isn't obvious, the model in the TikTok is using padding to achieve a fuller backside.

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These days, many fitness brands feature models with these body types in their ads. Except, as this video shows, that body type is rarely attainable in real-life.

It's all fake.

"But they don’t actually realize that what they’re comparing themselves to doesn’t actually exist."

This is a hard thing to realize when you see pictures of models in ads or on Instagram. All of it is fake, even before Photoshop comes into play.

It goes so far beyond retouching.

"And it’s not just image retouching. It’s these kind of manipulations that happen even before these images are retouched. It is so disturbing."

TBH, the only people who should be padding their bodies are drag performers! Thank you, I have spoken.

Not to mention that many people wouldn't suspect the fitness industry of doing this.

Unsplash | Jonathan Borba

After all, aren't they supposed to be promoting healthy and active lifestyles? People have come to understand that this sort of thing happens in the fashion and beauty world, but the fitness industry hasn't faced the same criticism.

It's another important reminder to take all images you see with a grain of salt.

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You can assume that almost every image on social media or featured in an advertisement these days has been manipulated, filtered, or re-touched in some way. This video is an important reminder to not compare yourself to those images since they are promoting something that is unrealistic.

The comments were heartbreaking.

This is the biggest problem with social media. Too many believe that the things they see are real, and then risk their lives to achieve the bodies they see on celebrities.

The features people want aren't natural.

Unless you're very blessed, the big butt/boob/tiny waist combo is pretty hard to get. Bigger women bigger butts, but companies don't want to use them to advertise their products to thin people.

The double-standards are unreal.

Basically what this means is that no one can win. According to advertisements, no matter how much you try to change your body it will never be to their standards. The good news? We now have permission to never compare ourselves to these images again.

It isn't just thin models, though.

The "ideal" body shape is an hourglass figure, even on us big girls. We have to have tiny waists that flare out into big butts and hips, but our bellies have to be small.

The video sparked a discussion about whether the fitness industry should disclose information to consumers.

Heck, maybe all ads should start disclosing how their images were created. We'd probably start seeing some real and untouched images in advertisements for once.

At least one person managed to find something funny about the situation.

Guys, I would give anything to be sitting on some butt pads right now. Nothing sounds more comfortable than sitting on some cushy memory foam the whole day.

You can watch the whole TikTok here.

Get a better idea of how the pads work, and why everything we see is fake af by watching Jess' whole TikTok right here. And don't forget to follow her account!