Once upon a time, Hollywood’s beauty ideal was clear: healthy, glowing, symmetrical, and slim but not gaunt. Stars on the red carpet looked like optimised versions of the rest of us, inspiring aspiration. But today, a significant portion of the public looks at celebrities and feels concern or alienation rather than admiration.
This awards season has seen a cluster of stars whose appearances have sparked worry, not praise. The most dramatic example is Jim Carrey, whose altered look at the 2026 César awards led to speculation that a body double was on stage. His representatives had to confirm it was him and that he had worked on his French speech for months.
Two converging phenomena are driving this new aesthetic. First, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic have caused rapid weight loss, producing gaunt faces. Second, cosmetic procedures such as filler, brow lifts, buccal fat removal, and lip enhancements have become more popular. Combined, they create an unsettling, uncanny look that feels unnatural.
This new look poses a problem for films. Actors are meant to reflect life back at us, but dramatically altered faces can be distracting. Ethan Hawke, nominated for an Oscar, has aged naturally, allowing him to convincingly play a washed-up man. Jamie Lee Curtis has criticised the 'cosmeceutical industrial complex' for disfiguring generations of women.
