‘The models wear bras under their bikinis for better cleavage’: A Victoria’s Secret photographer reveals the truth behind those stunning ads…. and what gets changed in Photoshop
This will make you less depressed about how those pics look
IT'S no secret that a bit of retouching happens before we see a lot of fashion ads.
But now a woman who has altered pictures for Victoria's Secret has lifted the lid on just how much goes on behind the scenes, and it's going to make you feel a bit better about yourself.
The woman decided not to be named when she was speaking to , and she hopes her story will help others see they shouldn't judge themselves so harshly.
Even the clothes get some help
It's probably not that much of a shock to her models will sometimes be given 'chicken fillets' to help boost their bust.
Pads can be used to add curves in other places too though.
"They put a push-up bra under the bathing suit," the Photoshopper explained.
"And we retouch out the bra... a lot of [staffers] would complain because they even did it with strapless stuff.
"When you're wearing a strapless bikini, in no way, shape, or form [can] you have cleavage.
"It’s physically impossible with the way gravity works."
The boobs don't really look like that
A LOT of work goes into making sure models' chests look their best.
Nipples will sometimes be removed, and the shape of breasts can be changed so they look rounder, bigger or higher.
Even better? Models don't have those perfectly hair-free, one-toned bodies we're used to seeing.
"They come to these photo shoots and, like, they have their arms up in the classic beach pose, and they have, like, hairy armpits," she explained.
"They all have stubbly pubes — all the normal stuff [non-models have]."
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Sometimes the bodies don't either
The unnamed woman would sometimes be called on to INCREASE the size of models.
Yep, that means adding in more of a bum, increasing their hips or smoothing away bony areas.
We might have ourselves to blame...
According to this lady, we've become so used to these weird standard of beauty it's now all we want to see.
She revealed Victoria's Secret often tries models with different body shapes, but in the end it's all about what sells.
"One time, during a swim season, they had these two girls come in that had abs and thick thighs and busts," she said.
"They were really toned and their skin was amazing.
"They were still obviously models. But they were a different look.
"But, they didn’t sell anything and so they stopped using those girls."
You're probably no better either
Are you a fan of Instagram? Always add a filter to your pictures?
Well that's retouching too. So is altering the light and shade in an image or playing with the camera angle.
Victoria's Secret didn't give Refinery29 a statement, and The Sun has requested comment.