In the swipe-right era of online dating, a glamorous profile photo promises romance—but delivers disappointment. Men vent frustration online, claiming women transform dramatically sans makeup, heels, and weaves. “Visit her in the house without makeup; women are like chameleons,” one Ghanaian social media user lamented, echoing a viral sentiment likening ladies to shape-shifting creatures who alter height with stilettos, skin tone to match outfits, and features with fake lashes, brows, and nails. Are women ungrateful, never satisfied? Some ask, tying it to tales of marital infidelity.
Despite all this forced pretense, there are a few ladies who have maintained their natural beauty without makeup. Such women are God-fearing; it is difficult to meet one for marriage.
This backlash reveals deeper challenges in picture dating. Apps like Tinder and Bumble thrive on visuals, where filters and edits craft illusions. A 2023 study by dating platform Hinge found 81% of users enhance photos of women, more so, with heavy makeup (45%) and body-smoothing apps (32%). Reality crashes in: the “5’10” stunner” shrinks to 5’4″ barefoot; the ebony goddess lightens for trends; intricate hairstyles unravel to natural roots. Disillusionment breeds distrust, with daters reporting “catfish” encounters 40% more common post-2020, per UK-based research from Relate.
Yet, blame cuts both ways. Men Photoshop their abs and inflate their heights too, 28% admit it, according to the same Hinge data. The real issue? Unrealistic expectations in a filtered world. In Ghana and Cameroon-inspired cultural rants, critics decry “ingratitude.” Still, psychologists like Dr Amina Bello argue it’s survival: beauty standards pressure women to compete in patriarchal markets, fueling affairs when authenticity fades in marriage.
Picture dating risks heartbreak, not just from looks but also from eroded trust. Solution? Video calls, early, low-stakes meetings. Until then, swipe wisely or skip the pics altogether.
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