A-listers have often been admired for their superhuman beauty.
But between airbrushed photoshoots and Photoshopped social pictures, it can be difficult to tell just how real or fake some picture perfect appearances are.
Now, close-up unfiltered images of beloved celebrities have emerged and show they are just as ‘human’ as the rest of us.
UK-based aesthetician and owner of House of Skincare Alexis Fraser took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal the real skin texture of some of the world’s most beautiful stars.
She shared several close-up images of Madonna, Kylie Jenner, Pamela Anderson, Demi Moore, Lorde, Anna Hathaway and Sydney Sweeney at this year’s Met Gala.
The pictures highlight their natural skin texture which often feature ‘bumps, blemishes, and wrinkles’.
A-listers have often been admired for their almost superhuman beauty, and the annual Met Gala is the perfect platform for their glamorous looks to shine. Pictured: Kylie Jenne
‘Yes, celebs have pores, lines, bumps, blemishes, and wrinkles too,’ Alexis captioned the video.
‘It’s called being human! Nobody’s skin is airbrushed in real life even though it looks like it online.’
One photo shows Madonna, who has long been known to airbrush her social media pictures, revealing her natural complexion under a porcelain shade of foundation, along with a brown eyeshadow and ruby red lip.
Meanwhile, Pamela Anderson and Lorde went for the no-makeup makeup look at the event, proudly showing off their tiny imperfections.
Elsewhere, Kylie Jenner, who complained of a tiny breakout this week during a trip to Europe, still looked flawless in photos from the red carpet, which had not been airbrushed.
It comes after fashion’s night-of-night’s was slammed as ‘boring’ and ‘underwhelming’ after failing to deliver the star power and glamour of years past.
The annual invite-only soiree kicked off Tuesday at New York City’s famed Metropolitan Museum of Art with A-list fixtures like Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande and Katy Perry noticeably missing.
While this year’s theme ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ presented an opportunity for ‘boundary-pushing’ looks, the red carpet was besieged by celebrities in drab black and grey outfits.
Now, close-up, unfiltered images of beloved celebrities have emerged, revealing they are just as ‘human’ as the rest of us, said skin specialist Alexis Fraser. Pictured: Madonna at Met Gala
The pictures showed stars rocking their natural skin texture, which often featured ‘bumps, blemishes, and wrinkles’, just like the everyday person. Pictured: Pamela Anderson at Met Gala
‘It’s called being human! Nobody’s skin is airbrushed in real life even though it looks like it online,’ Alexis said. Pictured: Demi Moore at Met Gala
Even bombshells like Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Kim Kardashian failed to stand-out as they made the trek up the museum’s iconic staircase in forgettable looks.
While ‘not following the theme’ is typically a major faux pas, Gigi Hadid’s slinky gold Miu Miu gown was a welcome reprieve among a sea of dreary dresses and suits.
Fans compared the 2025 event to a ‘funeral’ as they flocked to social media to voice their disappointment—with some even speculating the Met Gala is ‘dead’.
‘Maybe it’s the theme, I don’t know but so far the outfits at the Met Gala have been so dull, boring & just underwhelming #Met Gala,’ one fan tweeted out on X.
Another declared the 2025 event was the ‘most boring #MetGala ever’.
Fans were exhausted seeing the same ‘boring suits’ worn by the likes of Hollywood hunks Jeremy Allen White and Callum Turner on the red carpet.
Some wondered if celebrities were ‘misunderstanding’ the year’s theme—focused on black dandyism—or if it accidentally encouraged ‘boring’ looks.
‘You know the theme is boring when most people look basic and even Zendaya flopped,’ one X user remarked.
While the night’s ‘boring’ outfits dominated the conversation on social media, many Met Gala devotees couldn’t help but remark on the lack of star power.
Many were left disappointed as they wasted time waiting for Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Blake Lively to ‘show up’.
Also missing from the 2025 action were Met Gala favorites like Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish, Beyonce, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande and Bella Hadid.
Sydney Sweeney opted for a very glamorous but heavy makeup look
Lorde opted for a no-makeup-makeup look
