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Kim Kardashian Admits She Has Cellulite

By: Jen Mueller : 4/24/2009 2:03:38 PM : 164 comments

Pick up the latest issue of any women's magazine and you'll likely see a beautiful model or celebrity on the cover. They all have smooth and flawless skin, polished teeth and perfect curves. It's easy to look at those images and become discouraged because you feel like you'll never live up to that standard. But are those images real? Is that how this person would look if you saw them at Starbucks or working out at the gym? Probably not. It's called the magic of "Photoshopping," and one celebrity recently spoke out about what she really looks like.

Kim Kardashian recently did a
photo shoot for Complex magazine. When the original picture leaked onto the Internet, she decided to post that picture on her website next to the retouched version that was intended for the magazine. The differences are pretty significant. The retouched picture takes inches off of Kim's legs (removing all cellulite), makes her waist smaller and brightens her skin.

Kim says she's proud of her body and her curves and admits that yes, she does have cellulite. "What curvy girl doesn't?" she asks. It's hard to know if she would have posted those pictures, had the before picture not leaked out accidentally. But Kim gets credit for being brave enough to admit that she doesn't look perfect. Maybe if other celebrities would do the same, the average woman wouldn't feel pressure to aspire to look like and image that's unattainable.

Do you think magazines should stop retouching their cover models? Are you affected by these images in the media? How so?

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Comments (Scroll to end to leave a comment)

LIVEGOLFTRAVEL 3/17/2010 6:17:37 AM	Yes! Please stop airbrushing the photos. It is impossible to live up to the standards and many girls, young ladies and women feel that is what they are suppose to look like.	164
ERICA_NICOLE83 2/8/2010 1:45:28 PM	Go Kim! Sometimes these celebs don't even ask to be airbrushed, magazines just do what they want to sell magazines!	163
MINIMOE1 2/7/2010 5:06:34 PM	Who is Kim Kardashian and why should I care?	162
MONABROAD 2/1/2010 10:41:00 PM	I like the idea of letting the pictures show the model in an honest way, but quite frankly I'm addicted to the idea that perfection is attainable. Without hope, what do we have? ;-)	161
GAL8DY 1/25/2010 9:50:54 AM	It's about time celebrities admitted that magazine publishers are misleading the public with these touched up photos.	160
TEENYTINYPIP 1/24/2010 11:48:53 AM	I don't understand why this is such a big deal? Maybe because people aren't taught from an early age that NO ONE looks like this in real life? I have some students who moan about how they want a perfect body like Celebrity X. I found a video to show them just WHAT photoshopping can achieve. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd1V V9caAYk	159
FLAMINGO95 1/18/2010 12:58:42 PM	With all the controversy over retouching lately, one would think the magazines would keep hold of their photos better. The biggest disappointment to me is Self magazine and the cover shot of Kelly Clarkston. The magazine is supposed to promote Total Body Confidence. http://bumpshack.com/2009/08/08/kel ly-clarkson-self-magazine-photoshop -controversy /	158
KHOENICKE 12/3/2009 5:45:23 PM	I don't mind that they photoshop the images because it motivates me. It doesn't discourage me because I already know that I'll never look that flawless (no ones does, right?), but still gives me something to strive for. I think if they didn't photoshop the images, no one would buy them and they'd be out of business, so... whatever.	157
BLUE82 12/2/2009 11:13:33 PM	Did anyone see that picture of the model for Calvin Klein? The models' head was bigger than her pelvis. Then she got fired for being 'fat'. Kim owns up to having cellulite. What would happen to this world if magazines like that didn't exist? Would people have different expectations of each other if they had nothing to hold it to? Would men think differently of women if they never saw celebrities like they do now? If the photo had never leaked, would she have said anything? Doubtful since nobody would've seen it. Celebrities make their living on how they look, men and women alike. Why is it that women freak out about this and not men? Or do they, just not make it as obvious?	156
ETCHILDE 11/24/2009 5:25:05 PM	So, drop the mags. They don't do anything but promote unhealthy lifestyles. Leave 'em on the rack!	155
WALLOWA 11/10/2009 7:59:12 PM	Who. Freakin'. Cares?	154
AMARANTHA2 10/24/2009 5:40:08 PM	I can't click on the photoshoot but it doesn't matter to me (lol, to answer the question posed) if cover models are retouched. It is what it is, the world of illusion, why do we pick at this stuff all the time? Who cares, the only figure that matters is one's own figure. I don't know much about Kardashian, have seen some photoshoots of her doing gym workouts in fitness mags. She has never looked small to me and I've never had a doubt the photos are touched to eliminate the cellulite. I don't know, therefore, whether it is brave or not brave for her to have made a public statement about it. She's beautiful in the pic on this blog but not small by any stretch of the imagination. She makes a living by her "curviness." That is her thing, more power to her.	153
YOGACAT1 10/19/2009 11:55:37 PM	'curvy' okay, how is that an 'issue'? you mean she looks like a real person and hollywood thinks that is an issue, so it becomes front page news. what has happened to humanity?	152
ANNERS8 10/6/2009 8:24:59 AM	glad to see this... Kim is SO beautiful - it is good to know that even she isn't perfect! They even "fixed" her hair in the photoshopped version!	151
PAULINANILUAP 9/29/2009 1:19:31 AM	I SO wish that magazines stopped photoshopping women. It makes women feel bad for being human and makes men have ridiculously unrealistic expectations of women.	150
LAURASELF 9/19/2009 9:52:56 PM	Most people, except the sickly thin ones, have or have had it at one time. Without liposuction it is a part of life. L : )	149
DIET_NO_MORE 6/8/2009 8:02:08 AM	I'm so devastated!	148
PENDRAGON_NYC 6/2/2009 10:34:06 AM	Untouched, realistic photos might go over well here, but maybe no so much in the rest of the country. I remember one time, Seventeen magazine had a "realistic-looking" teenage girl on their front cover (I believe she was a size 5 or 6). The magazine sounded pretty proud to be promoting a healthier body image, but the subscribers (fellow teen girls) blasted it for the "ugly" photo. Some of the girls that commented were really, really abusive and the word, "fat" was used a lot. Until the public actually WANTS to see realistic people in the media, the media will continue to display fantasies.	147
MITCHMERWIN 5/27/2009 11:14:40 AM	Yes, I do wish that they would stop retouching the models in magazines. I am 36 years old and have an 8 year old son and I struggle on a constant basis to try to keep weight off and keep the cellulite down and i can't seem to get rid of the cellulite even after 800 dollars worth of dermasonic treatments. I get so depressed that I end up saying screw it! and eating cookie dough. Which I know doesn't help, just makes it worse and is a vicious cycle. Over the last 2 years I have kept down to between a 6 and an 8 but it doesn't matter how much I loose or how much I work out it never seems to be enough because I can never look as perfect as those magazines or movies. It just gets really depressing for me.	146
CAR227 5/23/2009 6:01:29 PM	This is news! Hearing about this is beneficial to those of us on Sparkpeople - how? Everyone already knows that photoshopping is a fact of life. Celebrities are in the business of marketing themselves. They are still getting the benefit of all the attention regardless of whether the story is considered negative or not. I also agree with the comments by MISSAROSA1, BREN0412, TUB-O-DEE, SCRUFFYLOVE.	145
ONTHEWAY2IT 5/19/2009 10:25:09 AM	She's beautiful... and human. All of the photoshopping does tend to warp reality for women and I think some men have unrealistic expectations for women because of it too.	144
NAKJOHNS 5/4/2009 2:37:13 PM	It depends on what the model wants as far as the retouching of their photos go. The images on the media do not affect me at all. I am my own person, and by God I am wonderfully made, so my only concerns would be to stay at a healthy weight, and be toned and fit to my own standards.	143
LIPSANTOS 5/1/2009 6:57:21 PM	If you follow her on Twitter, you'll see that Kim talks about getting "glammed up" for photo shoots, which shows that she realizes, and tries to convey to her followers, that those publicity pictures are created with lots of special effects. The real Kim goes to the gym faithfully, and she also talks about how hard that is. She seems very down to earth. I really enjoy reading her tweets and I wish her the best of luck and much success.	142
ANGELSDELIGHT38 4/29/2009 7:14:26 PM	Kim is a an ethinic women. She is not that typical american beauty. Her boyfriend likes her the way she is. Go head Kim and keep your curves but be healthy doing it.	141
TIME-4-MAGA 4/29/2009 2:24:26 PM	I would rather have Kim's body then the body of the Beaty Contest Winner whose ribs u can c. REAL WOMAN HAVE CURVES & So do I.Hubby loves it that way	140
BEESPARKLE 4/28/2009 7:05:53 PM	The poor girl. Leave her alone.Hollywood. She is beautiful. Who is perfect in body image. get real. . I was surprised when years back Oprah let everyone see her without make up or hair done. I think those who seen her was totally shocked. Yet deep down. She was honest like Kim. She wanted to let people see the real beauty of Oprah was inside not outside. Everyone with makeup to go somewhere is different, Without it like myself profile here. That is me. People respected Opra and Kim. Has a heart of gold. I like up front people in Hollywood. It gives us a example. Beauty is only skin deep. It is the inside of a person that really matters. Just like. Dont judge a book by its cover. Read it. you may love it.	139
MS_GEMINI 4/28/2009 5:01:48 PM	I applaud her for being so honest. We need more people who are in the spotlight to just keep it real. I'm tired of them putting women down anyway do they ever say anything when a man is overweight or underweight? Different people make up the world that's why we are different.	138
ROXYGR1765 4/28/2009 2:46:13 PM	Come on ladies... We may get cellulite, but that doesn't mean we're ugly! It's a natural process so it's great to read that someone in the public eye can step up and admit a flaw that is rarely shown on those magazines we often fall for! Stay positive and know that we can rock it with or without cellulite!!!!	137
HNICOLE25 4/28/2009 12:42:54 PM	This doesn't surprise me either, every magazine retouches!! And most women have cellulite and not just the curvy ones!! Have you seen this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhC n0jf46U Check it out!	136
LILMEMOMMY 4/28/2009 11:20:02 AM	This is no real shock. Really who doesn't have cellulite????	135
PRAIRIEDAWNPAM 4/28/2009 1:06:13 AM	I've been inspired by images of Valerie Bertinelli in a bikini. We are about the same size, we have both lost 50 lbs and she is way (8 years) older than I am so if she can wear a bikini, so can I. That said, I know her pics are probably Photoshopped, but I don't think the goal of wearing a bikini is unrealistic. I've seen women here on Spark People achieve even more amazing things with their weightloss and fitness and they are motivational to me, too. I don't expect it to be easy, but I'll get there. ...Pam PS I think Kim looks great even without the Photoshop. Good on her!	134
DRIVIN_GIRL 4/28/2009 12:13:07 AM	wow. I always knew about airbrushing and the fakeness of photos in magazines but this really surprised me. It is quite a relief to see these pics side by side. It gives me hope that i am really actually not doing so badly. I mean, i didn't realize the scope of airbrushing. This really opened my eyes. Thanks!	133
BLUNTAND2THEPT 4/27/2009 9:51:24 PM	Keep information like this coming! I love that it's now becoming vogue for celebrities to be open about what they're really like. It gives me hope for my daughter in that she might have a more realistic view of what is healthy both from the examples I set for her and from those set by the media.	132
GIRLIEGIRL1149 4/27/2009 9:40:13 PM	What do they mean she was brave enough to admit it , what choice did she have? It doesn't matter to me that they retouch photos. It's just like the food commercials. That burger doesn't look like that when you buy it!	131
1HOTTAMALE 4/27/2009 8:42:24 PM	well I sure wish they would stop retouching photos- I've had such a bad self image of myself all my life, and even when I'm at a good weight I never want anyone to see me with little or no clothes on. I feel it would help many people of all ages feel better about themselves	130
SHADOWPUP 4/27/2009 8:18:38 PM	If magazines must show perfect figures on the cover, I'd rather have their models photo shopped than expect them to go on unhealthy diets or surgeries! It's been known for a long time that these modifications are taking place. It's not all that different from what goes on when models use tape, padding etc to change their appearance ... and so many people dye their hair that it is almost expected nowadays. And makeup is considered the norm. So how much change is okay and how much is not? The best we can do is to make sure that young women and girls understand that what they are seeing is not 'real', and to teach them to enjoy and respect their own bodies as they are naturally, so that they will not harm themselves in the search of false beauty. And we can best do this by showing examples like this one to them, by not casting aspersions on how other people look, and by being proud of ourselves. Easier said than done.	129
MISSREIREI 4/27/2009 12:38:32 PM	A lot of people say this doesn't mean she's brave or that honest, but hey... she could've gone the other way and tried to hush it all up and ignore it. Instead she turned it into something positive. Even if it's just one thing that's better than nothing. Besides, knowing Kim Kardashian has cellulite, regardless of how things went, makes me feel a lot better about my own :)	128
MIEZEKATZE 4/27/2009 11:54:16 AM	I really doubt Kim would've said anything had the photos NOT leaked. Everybody knows about photoshop, but I don't think people are aware how prevalent it is. It really is quite damaging to our perception of what beautiful is, I don't think it's healthy. Perhaps I'm being a bit overboard, but I really think that magazines should be required to post non-photoshopped images on their website or something. A healthy dose of reality is what we need.	127
4EVERADONEGIRL 4/27/2009 11:24:59 AM	You know, I was kind of undecided about the whole photoshopping issue, until I actually viewed the pictures side by side...What a HUGE difference!! As a mother of teenage girls, I personally think it would be better for them to see the original untouched photos. She is still gorgeous and beautiful in both photos, but, yes there are visible imperfections in the before photo and young women all over the world should be able to SEE that even celebrities are not perfect. I tend to think it would make a huge difference in how young women perceive themselves.	126
GIGI2009 4/27/2009 10:47:30 AM	It doesn't matter much to me. Let them retouch. No one wants to see untouched photos much anyway. These are celebrities... of course they do not want to be talked about, who does? I'm not affected by it at all. It's how they sell or market their merchandise. It makes me want to buy it!	125
SOLONGE 4/27/2009 10:26:07 AM	I'm not sure where most people are finding this new admiration and respect for her over this issue. Had the original photos not been leaked, she would not have been so "brave" in admitting this!!!!	124
RIVERLESS 4/27/2009 10:18:11 AM	At least someone was honest enough to admit that they have flaws. I know some of the magazines take it too far, but there are some celebs that refuse to admit that they have had bad hair days. I'm glad one of them finally decided to say " you know what- those images that you see on the magazines aren't exactly true." I'm okay with a little photoshop to get rid of blemishes (I'm glad that will be happening for my wedding photos) but whittling away legs is a little too far!	123
DAWNEG 4/26/2009 10:03:08 PM	I have no problem with retouching when you are trying to fix a lighting issue, a tan line etc. But I do have an issue if they are litterally taking inches off a persons figure. You hired this person to do the a picture because you thought they were beautiful and attractive, so why are you trying to change the way they look and appear.	122
LDOLLAR1 4/26/2009 9:32:11 PM	Good for her for owning it. But she should have had the mag run the natural photo instead of the photoshopped picture.	121
DEBBIEK60 4/26/2009 9:24:45 PM	Maybe they should indicate that the photo is touched up. Like most people, I would love to be the perfect size and shape for my small frame, (I was almost there a few months ago at my goal of 129, with maybe only a few more to lose for insurance of staying out of the 130s for me) and I respect the people who get there the healthy way, even if they sacrifice more than some people feel they should have to. I mean sacrifice the nice to haves that are not necessary for life, not skipping healthy meals. I don't mind having them for inspiration, but I'd feel better knowing that they are real untouched up photos.	120
JENNIFER8998 4/26/2009 6:27:15 PM	Yes!! I understand that there a great looking women out there that are a size 0. Fine, not a problem. Put their picture on the cover of a magazine (it gives me something to shoot for!). But by making these women a perfect ideal that can never be reached is harmful to everyone, including the women themselves. (Have you looked at the eating disorder rate of models lately?)	119
ECLIPSED 4/26/2009 6:17:59 PM	I'm old enough to realize that most women and men do not look like the ones you see on tv, movies or magazine covers. I've heard of Kim, but don't know what she does or who she is. I think that parents need to stress to their children that they need to accept themselves as they are, learn to love who you are and show them that these "hollywood" people are not real. Although I agree with a lot of the other posters......who really cares?	118
TSMGIRL 4/26/2009 5:12:29 PM	so what's the problem? nobody's pefect as long as you love you're self i think it's ok! also that talk about that girls bumm stop it all ready!	117
MRSHONEYC 4/26/2009 5:00:57 PM	I realize that the models on magazines (and tv) have been retouched and no one is "perfect" so no, they don't affect me. I am happy with who I am, although some days I wish I had those "washboard bellies" like some girls do - that will just take time and real commitment!	116
SCRUFFYLOVE 4/26/2009 4:41:03 PM	Puh-lease, this woman is trying to tell people she's a size 2! She got upset that people might think she shops for plus-size clothing and went on her blog to say so. She's doing a disservice to curvy women. I can not believe this one incident is looked at as brave.	115