It all started when Tana Mongeau posted a photo on her Instagram account that appeared to be heavily edited. The photo, which featured Tana posing in a revealing outfit, had been manipulated to the point where many of her followers were left questioning its authenticity. Specifically, Tana's body had been significantly altered, with her waist and legs appearing to be much slimmer and more toned than they are in real life.
From a psychological perspective, the constant exposure to edited images—even when those edits are exposed as “fails”—has a cumulative effect. Research in media psychology shows that comparing oneself to digitally altered images increases body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms. When a fan sees Tana Mongeau’s edited photo, their brain registers the “ideal.” When they see the unedited version, they may feel relief, but the damage is done: the ideal has been planted.
The controversy surrounding Mongeau typically involves a pattern: She posts a highly curated, glossy photo on Instagram where her waist appears narrower, her skin smoother, or her proportions altered. Within hours, fan accounts or critics post side-by-side screenshots from her YouTube videos or unedited candids. These comparisons often reveal significant discrepancies—a warped wall behind her, a blurred line where her torso meets a doorway, or simply a body that looks radically different from the one seen in motion. tana mongeau photoshop
She famously went on the H3 Podcast to discuss her plastic surgery and editing habits, admitting that she often feels pressure to look a certain way for the internet. She revealed that she edits her photos to match the look she gets from cosmetic procedures like fillers and Botox, creating a cyclical trap where she edits her photos, then gets surgery to look like the edits.
For Tana, the "photoshop accusations" are just another Tuesday. She has built a brand on being an open book, sharing her messiest moments for the world to see. Yet, the editing remains a point of contention because it represents the one thing she isn't willing to show unfiltered: her unedited self. It all started when Tana Mongeau posted a
In 2020, eagle-eyed followers noticed something strange in a TikTok Tana posted. As she strutted away from the camera, the doorframe behind her began to warp and bend in a way that defied the laws of physics. The allegation? That she had used a "slimming" filter or editing tool that inadvertently distorted her surroundings.
While the warped couches and bending doorframes provide a momentary laugh for the internet, they serve as a stark reminder: If the furniture in the photo doesn't look real, the body in it probably isn't either. From a psychological perspective, the constant exposure to
As consumers and followers, we need to take responsibility for our own actions and demand more from the influencers and celebrities we follow. We need to promote a culture of self-acceptance and body positivity, where everyone feels valued and respected regardless of their appearance.
The use of Photoshop and other image editing tools has been linked to a range of negative effects on mental health, including low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders. When influencers like Tana Mongeau use Photoshop to create unrealistic and unattainable beauty standards, they can contribute to a culture of comparison and competition that can be damaging to their followers.
The internet never forgets, and it definitely didn't forget the time Tana allegedly edited a video to change the way she walked.
: In a different viral moment, Mongeau defended a photo that appeared to have distorted her hand, claiming the "freakishly long fingers" were a result of the camera lens rather than a photoshop error.