Katie Couric Gets Real About Plastic Surgery in No-Makeup Selfie

Photo credit: Katie Couric/ Instagram
Photo credit: Katie Couric/ Instagram

From Prevention

Katie Couric is embracing her natural beauty.

The 61-year-old journalist posted a makeup-free selfie of herself in which she shared with her followers why she has not jumped on board the plastic surgery bandwagon like so many others who are in the spotlight.

"An article in the latest issue of JAMA says plastic surgeons are increasingly getting requests to make people look as good as they do in their selfies after they edit them," Couric wrote on Monday.

"Researchers call it 'Snapchat dysmorphia' and they say it is having a negative impact on self esteem and can even trigger body dysmorphic disorder, which is classified as a mental illness. Clearly, I am bucking that trend. I also have a terrible sore throat. #happymonday."

In an article published on August 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association titled "Selfies- Living in the Era of Filtered Photographs," three doctors affiliated with the Department of Dermatology at the Boston University School of Medicine write about an "alarming trend": apps like Snapchat and Facetune, which alter a person's appearance, affect the user's self-esteem, make them feel inadequate, and can lead them to developing body dysmorphia.

They're calling the phenomenon “Snapchat dysmorphia.” Where in the past patients would request plastic surgery to look more like a celebrity, now they're seeking out "cosmetic surgery to look like filtered versions of themselves instead, with fuller lips, bigger eyes, or a thinner nose."

On Couric's Instagram, fans applauded her for being one of the few celebrities to be so candid with her followers - even when she's feeling ill.

"Katie - I like that you are not afraid to 'be real' , and let people see you when you’re Not made up," one user wrote. "You Show yourself looking tired, not feeling well, etc. A Down To Earth Woman 😊, who happens to be well known by millions."

"I love how real and honest you are. Thanks for being you," another said.

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