A viral video circulating on social media platforms has sparked widespread discussion after a Chinese female livestreamer reportedly lost more than 140,000 followers in a matter of minutes when her beauty filter malfunctioned live on air, briefly exposing her natural appearance without the enhanced, idealized look she had been presenting.
The clip, which has been shared extensively on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and other sites since mid-February 2026, shows the influencer—known for her flawless "glass-skin" aesthetic, smooth complexion, enlarged eyes, slimmed jawline, and doll-like features—interacting with viewers and playing music during a casual livestream session. Suddenly, the filter glitches for a few seconds, flickering off to reveal a noticeably different face: warmer skin tone, visible texture, natural features, and what many described as a more mature or "real" appearance.
The streamer quickly adjusts her hair, smiles, and continues as if nothing happened, but the live chat reportedly exploded with shocked reactions. Within moments, her follower count began plummeting, with posts claiming she lost around 140,000 followers almost immediately after the incident. The exact figure remains unverified by independent sources, as no official account or platform data has confirmed the drop, but the claim has been repeated across numerous viral posts and news aggregators.
The video highlights a common practice among Chinese livestreamers, particularly on platforms like Douyin (China's TikTok), Kuaishou, and Taobao Live, where heavy AI-powered beauty filters are standard to achieve the "internet celebrity" look that drives engagement, gifts, and sales. These filters often smooth skin, enlarge eyes, slim faces, and whiten teeth—creating an idealized, youthful image that can differ significantly from reality.
Netizens reacted in varied ways. Some expressed disappointment or amusement, with comments like "The filter lied to us" or "That's why I don't trust livestreams," while others defended her, saying she looked "prettier" or "more natural" without the filter. A few pointed out that the unfiltered face appeared "middle-aged" compared to the youthful persona she projected, fueling debates about authenticity, beauty standards in China, and the pressure on female creators to maintain a perfect online image.
The incident echoes earlier viral moments, such as the 2020 "Qiao Biluo" case, where a popular Chinese livestreamer known as "Your Highness Qiao Biluo" was revealed to be middle-aged after a filter failure, leading to a massive follower exodus and account suspension. That event sparked national conversations about deception in the live-streaming industry.
No specific identity of the streamer in the recent clip has been confirmed in mainstream reports, and the story appears to originate from user-generated social media posts rather than verified news outlets. Major publications like NDTV, India Today, The Indian Express, and News18 have covered the viral claim but noted that the follower loss figure is based on circulating posts and has not been independently verified. Some reports suggest the drop may be exaggerated for engagement.
The event underscores ongoing issues in China's massive live-streaming economy—valued at hundreds of billions of yuan—where creators rely heavily on filters and virtual enhancements to attract viewers and monetize through virtual gifts, e-commerce, and ads. Regulators have periodically cracked down on deceptive practices, but beauty filters remain ubiquitous.
As the clip continues to spread, it has reignited discussions about digital authenticity, the psychological impact of unrealistic beauty standards, and whether audiences are ready to accept creators without heavy digital alteration.
