Photo editing programs have long been a part of our lives, so you can rarely see a photo that hasn’t been retouched. However, it’s wrong to think that Photoshop belongs only to the modern world. People have been improving the looks of their portraits for centuries. That means there were specialists in photo retouching that date all the way back to the nineteenth century. Even painters have worked hard to make models look more beautiful than they really were.
At Bright Side, we searched the archives and found photos of royalty from the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, and we compared them to their portrait paintings. At the end of the article, we’ll show you what Vincent van Gogh really looked like.
Isabella II of Spain (1830 — 1904)
Mary of Teck, the spouse of George V (1867 — 1953)
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the mother of Queen Elizabeth II (1900 — 2002)
Princess Helena of the United Kingdom (1846 — 1923)
Victoria, Princess Royal, German Empress (1840 — 1901)
Charlotte of Belgium (1840 — 1927)
Sophie of Württemberg, Queen of the Netherlands (1818 — 1877)
Queen Victoria (1819 — 1901)
Maria Christina of Austria, Queen-consort of Spain (1858 — 1929)
Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Parma, Princess-consort of Bulgaria (1870 — 1899)
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia (1882 — 1957)
Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria’s fifth daughter (1857 — 1944)
Alexandra Feodorovna, the spouse of Nicholas II of Russia (1872 — 1918)
Princess Alice of Battenberg, the mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II (1885 — 1969)
Alexandra of Denmark, the spouse of Edward VII (1844 — 1925)
onus: Vincent van Gogh (1853 — 1890)
What do you think about Photoshop? Do you use it often? Tell us in the comments below.
How did Austria’s “most beautiful artificial girl” appear before her transformation
To begin, let’s revisit a bit of history. The first Barbie doll was released in 1959, marketed as the epitome of anatomical perfection. Unlike the traditional big-eyed celluloid dolls, Barbie’s adult face and feminine figure offered a fresh alternative, quickly captivating young girls. However, as time passed, concerns arose. Doctors warned of the doll’s unintended influence, as teenage girls began striving for its unattainable proportions. Barbie became linked to cases of anorexia, affecting hundreds, if not thousands, worldwide.
While browsing for fashion inspiration this season, I stumbled upon an article praising an Austrian Barbie-inspired figure as a style icon. Yet, finding accurate information about her proved challenging.
Meet Billie (or Anna, depending on the source), a 30-year-old Vienna resident who describes herself as a style icon and “Europe’s most beautiful artificial woman.” Born in 1994 into an ordinary family, Billie had a typical childhood, attending school and playing sports without any standout interests. During her teenage years, she embraced the emo subculture, dyeing her hair black, getting piercings, and later adding tattoos.
At 18, Billie grew disenchanted with the emo aesthetic, realizing it wasn’t garnering the attention she craved. This epiphany led her to transform her image, trading dark tones for the pastel hues of babydoll pink. Although her new look attracted more notice, Billie still felt inadequate. At 19, she underwent her first breast augmentation, beginning a journey of self-reinvention that would define her public persona.
Billie’s rise to fame was gradual. Initially, she earned money by sharing photos on various online platforms, receiving payments based on views. She even claims to have been among the early pioneers of OnlyFans, though this assertion remains unverified.
Over time, Billie caught the media’s attention, making appearances on television and talk shows where she shared stories about her life and transformation. Before her drastic changes, she was a naturally attractive young woman with striking eyes. However, Billie admitted she saw little beauty in her original appearance, opting instead for cosmetic surgery to fit societal trends and ideals.
Despite her fame, Billie has acknowledged her dependency on plastic surgeries and cosmetic injections. While she recognizes her addiction, she feels unable—and perhaps unwilling—to change course. Her story serves as a poignant reflection of the lengths some go to in pursuit of beauty and acceptance.
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