Credits: boredpanda
Many of you have probably seen pictures of a former classmate who has aged and changed dramatically. When you think back to high school, you can’t help but notice how different they look now. Known as “glow-ups,” these stunning makeovers can be found all over the internet. Examples include glow-up photos taken after leaving conservative homes; 10-year challenge glow-ups; and glow-up photos taken after overcoming mental health issues.
In reality, however, not all of the lights are on. Using a TikTok video, @gabslife99 has started the glow-down challenge by posting a hilarious TikTok video. “I physically peaked in high school,” reads the video’s caption. When I was 18, I was the sexiest I’ve ever been. “I’m not the same person I was then.”
More women joined in on the fun, posting before and after photos of their own makeovers. It’s a light-hearted response to near-perfect glow-ups that often fall short of the mark. In the end, it doesn’t matter what we look like because we are all beautiful in our own way.
This woman said in a video that went viral on TikTok that she reached her physical best in high school.
In an interview with Bored Panda, Gabrielle McDonald, the TikTok user who started the trend of people posting glow-down selfies, explained how she came up with the idea. When Gabrielle saw so many “glow up” TikToks on her “for you” page, she became extremely irritated.
The fact that she wasn’t able to take part in the challenge “bothered” her, so she came up with her own, and she chuckled. “It sets an unrealistic goal for most people, as we all don’t get to have drastic ‘glow-ups,'” said Gabrielle.
Sure, I’m all for weight loss or breaking up with someone who’s been a toxic influence in your life. When it comes to “glow-ups” for people who have just entered puberty or who have applied a lot of makeup, “I’m not okay with that,” she said. The woman who sells Glow-in-the-dark TikTaks may be a bad example for people who are self-conscious about their appearance.
Despite the fact that she didn’t expect her challenge to go viral, Gabrielle admitted that she had no idea what was going to happen.
In addition, she issued a challenge to her followers, encouraging them to post photos of themselves in the dark.
Glow-down challenge participants are encouraged to realize that “it’s completely normal to not look how you might have done a while back.” The way you look now doesn’t have to be the only thing on your mind.
She came to the conclusion that “we should love ourselves just as we are and not try to set unrealistic goals for ourselves.”
It was only a matter of time before other ladies took up the TikTok challenge.
Image credits: mack_bell11
Image credits: pinkellewoods
Image credits: aylor_liiight
Image credits: happymadimoo
Image credits: anitatrzebunia
Image credits: carolinekraemer_
Image credits: bellabetten
Image credits: foreverfloow
Image credits: maghenhamilton
Image credits: angelicalovestiktokkkk
Image credits: elixriv
Image credits: broooksterr
Image credits: melissasuggitt
Image credits: willyssaga
Image credits: ranch_mammi
