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Oh, the Internet and its hours of mindless entertainment and controversy. The latest trend, hitting all the main photo and video sharing networks, has been the “Don’t Judge Challenge.” While it all started with a positive, self-esteem raising message, it’s turned into something that is quite the contrary. Some Thai celebrities have started joining in on the “challenge”, but not everyone is happy about it.

▼ The trend can be traced back to a video encouraging people to love themselves.

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YouTube (My Pale Skin)

Apparently, the “Don’t Judge Challenge” started in the UK earlier this month when YouTuber My Pale Skin (A.K.A. Em Ford), posted a video expressing her distress at how people judged her negatively when she revealed her true, make-up free, acne-covered face, yet even when she was fully made up, the compliments about her make-up technique quickly turned into accusations of her being “false” and a “liar” for trying to hide her marred face.

In response, teens across the world started doing the “Don’t Judge Challenge,” posting pictures of themselves in their natural, unmade-up forms, then transforming into a “more beautiful” version of themselves. The general idea was to challenge the concept of what society considers beautiful and to be comfortable as you are naturally, as well as pointing out that most people wear make up for the same reasons.

▼ But then this started happening…

The challenge has since taken a turn in the opposite direction, as netizens around the world have started making themselves look as ugly as possible, painting on unibrows, using markers to draw pockmarks, and making unseemly makeup choices, then transforming into their more beautiful “natural” selves. So, pretty much the opposite of what the challenge was originally all about.

As one would think, the people who started the trend are pretty peeved that their message has been taken over and is now completely blemished.

However, their protest is not putting the brakes on the viral train at all. Recently, some Thai celebrities, Focus Jeerakul and Pheerawas “Amm” Khunlanunwat have added fuel to fire, joining in on the “challenge” by posting videos of themselves all dolled up as “uglies” and then turning back into their perfect, idol selves.

▼ Focus Jeerakul

▼ Pheerawas “Amm” Khunlanunwat in his “ugly” and “handsome” forms.

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#สี่สิบห้ายูโร

A post shared by Pheerawas Khunlanunthwatn (@amp_pheerawas_k) on

Long story short, the “Don’t Judge Challenge” has turned from embracing your natural self, to beautiful people making fun of everyone else and then showing off.

It’s a pretty sticky topic. What do you think? Were the Thai celebrities crossing a line they shouldn’t have or is this all just in the name of fun and games on the silly Internet? Let us know your thoughts below!

Source: Coconuts Bangkok
Top Image:
 Twitter/@Cos_Focus (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert images: Twitter/@Cos_Focus, Instagram/mmdevilll via Coconuts Bangkok