Body image advocate posts video of 'crazy' body transformation using photo editing
Body image and mental health advocate Victoria Garrick continues to expose video editing techniques in a new social media post reminding people to "be cautious of the content that you consume online."
The former Division 1 athlete has become known to her TikTok and Instagram audiences for spreading body positivity and sharing authentic experiences when it comes to her own journey in recovery from an eating disorder. When she posted a video of herself wearing a bikini in a body that looked much different from her own, followers were shocked.
"WAIT FOR IT…." Garrick wrote in the post's caption, urging people to watch until the end where a filter was removed and her natural body appeared. "Crazy, I know!!! The first half of this video is totally photoshopped. (Yes, you can seamlessly photoshop a video and even disguise it SUPER well.)"
It isn't the first time that Garrick has brought attention to such techniques. She posted a similar video in May 2021 as Kim Kardashian was facing backlash for appearing to have her waist edited to look smaller in a SKIMS campaign video. Garrick's video garnered 10 million views on her TikTok page in one day, with most viewers admitting that they didn't know moving content could be edited in the same way as photos.
"Many celebrities and people do it all the time! (See @celebface or @igfamousbydana)," Garrick wrote at the time, pointing to Instagram accounts that show before and after photos of specific edits made by various public figures. In her recent post, she encourages consumers of online content to look out for "minor glitches" that have led to those celebrities getting caught.
"I want to call attention to the many ways that social media can deceive you, even in ways that you might not have known existed," she continued. "Definitely don’t compare yourself to anything you see!!! There is truly no way to tell what is and isn't REAL."
People shared their disbelief in Garrick's comments section, noting that they didn't even recognize her at first. More importantly, they praised her for using her platform to shed light on the reality of editing apps and how they are being used to deceive followers.
"I would NEVER know this was photoshopped…. This is alarming," one person commented.
Another wrote, "Thank you for making videos like this. It’s always a good reminder. It's easy to get caught up in the lies of social media."
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorders Association hotline at 1-800-931-2237.
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