A Chinese livestreamer has gone viral after her beauty filter briefly malfunctioned during a live broadcast, with social media users claiming she lost nearly 1.4 lakh followers following the incident.
In the widely circulated four-second clip, the influencer’s heavily filtered appearance suddenly drops, revealing her natural skin texture and warmer complexion. Moments later, the filter returns, restoring a smooth, pale look with enlarged eyes and a slimmer jawline.
The video has spread across platforms including X and Instagram. However, the reported loss of 1,40,000 followers has not been independently verified.
Beauty filters and livestream culture
Livestreaming is a major industry in China, especially on platforms such as Douyin, where influencers earn money through virtual gifts purchased by viewers. Appearance often plays a crucial role in attracting engagement and financial support.
Many streamers rely on advanced beauty filters that reshape facial features and alter skin tone to align with prevailing digital beauty standards. The brief glitch reignited debates about authenticity and unrealistic online expectations.
Echoes of past controversies
The incident has drawn comparisons to a 2019 case involving a vlogger known as “Qiao Biluo”, whose filter malfunction revealed a different appearance during a joint livestream. That controversy initially led to backlash but later boosted her visibility.
Online reactions to the current clip remain divided. Some criticised the perceived reliance on filters, while others argued that the influencer looked more natural and relatable without digital enhancement.
The episode has sparked broader conversations about curated identities, social media pressure and the impact of filters on self-image in the digital age.