'Zombie Angelina Jolie' fooled the world by changing her face – then showed what she really looks like
A woman who went viral after she was dubbed the 'Zombie Angelina Jolie' went to extreme picture-editing lengths to change her appearance.
Sahar Tabar went viral in 2017 after posting photos of herself online, leading to some people describing her as a zombie-like version of Jolie.
Russian news outlet Sputnik reported at the time that Sahar said she edited the photos so outlandishly to 'amuse' herself.
She also said the unusual edits were 'a form of self-expression', despite previously claiming to have had over 50 procedures, which was later revealed to be untrue.
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Sahar told Sputnik: "Now I can see that I have something in common with [Angelina Jolie], but I amuse myself, and to look like someone is not my goal.
"Over time I post a photo, I make my face more fun and funny, it is a form of self-expression, a kind of art."
It was later reported that Sahar only had rhinoplasty, liposuction, and injectable fillers in her lips.
So, after being known for so long as the 'Zombie Angelina Jolie', it was a shock after so much time to see what Sahar really looks like.
She appeared on Rokna, an Iranian state-owned media channel, to show her real face for the first time.
Many viewers were quick to point out that she actually looks nothing like a 'Zombie Angelina Jolie', as she detailed what her family thought of her posting the viral pictures to social media.
"Sometimes the words of a stranger or a friend can be more important than those of a parent," she explained on Iranian TV.
Speaking of the images which lead to the 'Zombie Angeline Jolie' comments, Sahar added: "What you saw on Instagram was the computer effects I used to create the image.”
“Cyberspace was an easy way. It was much easier than becoming an actor."
She was quoted as saying she 'wanted to be famous since I was a child', but will now not be returning to social media some nine years on from her initial fame.
Discussing her real appearance, one person wrote on social media: "It’s amazing how many people put so much thought into what other people are doing to be comfortable in their own skin."
While a second wrote: "Wow! It’s so sad what lengths people would go to for fame…"
Sahar was arrested in Iran in 2019 as law officials punished social media influencers.
She was charged with blasphemy, inciting violence, gaining income through inappropriate means, and encouraging youth corruption.
The former influencer was sentenced to 10 years behind bars, but she ultimately served 14 months in prison.
This was around the same time widespread protests in Iran were taking place following the death of Mahsa Amini, the young woman who died in police custody after being arrested for not wearing her hijab properly.
Topics: Social Media, Angelina Jolie
Callum Jones