Influencer Joanna Kenny urges people not to use ‘toxic’ beauty filter on TikTok that made her feel ‘ugly’

A body confidence influencer who boasts almost 30,000 TikTok followers has warned social media users not to use a “toxic” new beauty filter.

Joanna Kenny, 32, has gained a legion of social media followers since she empowered women with a snap embracing her facial hair which went viral on Instagram in 2021.

She returned to the platform this weekend to voice concerns about how a new TikTok beauty filter could have a negative impact on a person’s self-esteem, while also possibly catfishing others due to the dramatic way it alters the user’s appearance.

The former esthetician vented about TikTok’s ‘Bold Glamour’ filter in a video shared on both her TikTok and Instagram account.

Joanna, who has over 114,000 Instagram followers, said the filter should come with a “warning” as she encouraged social media users to embrace their pores amid her own self acceptance journey.

Demonstrating TikTok’s ‘Bold Glamour’ filter, Joanna said: “This filter has now been used 12 million times. When I revealed that this filter made me feel ugly, so many of you said that this face is just as beautiful.

“Other people said the effects of this filter could be achieved with makeup. Take it from me, it can’t - not only do I not have the skills to do that, why should I?

“That filter changed the shape of my nose, my cheekbones and the shape of my face and that’s exactly what I’m working against. The idea that we need to recreate filters like this, beauty expectations like this, in real life.

“Some people didn’t get what I meant when I said that this filter is realistic. This filter does not glitch and when you’re prone to comparison the idea that this could be real is really damaging.

“As a former beauty therapist, this is the kind of expectation that people have from skincare and makeup, when they can’t achieve it with that they look to cosmetic surgery.”

She added: “Thank you to everyone who made me feel beautiful for being just the way I am. And restoring the confidence that this filter took from me.”

Thousands of people have praised Joanna for speaking out against using the filter, with many parents admitting that they are concerned how social media beauty effects may impact their teenage daughter’s self-confidence.

One person wrote: “Wow this is so powerful! The filter doesn’t even look like you. It just creates this generic look — so unsettling.”

Another commented: “Thank you for raising awareness about the prevalence of filters and the unrealistic beauty standards that they continue to perpetuate. As a mother of a teenagers your posts have been so empowering for discussions between me, my daughter and my son. Your posts are candid, non judgemental and honest. Thank you.”

A third said: “Thank you for bringing awareness to these filters and the subconscious damage they do! ❤️ it’s so important I appreciate you!!”

A fourth added: “You are incredible and give me so much hope that we can all one day escape these harmful and frankly unattainable beauty standards. You are amazing!!”