Yet another of AKB48’s endless ranks of identikit idols is courting controversy – this time by daring to appear without makeup, with 21-year-old Atsuko Maeda’s natural appearance brutally distressing fans with her “ugly” and “below average” looks.
As part of her efforts to learn to drive (an accomplishment of such difficulty apparently being a major event for an AKB48 member), she was exposed momentarily to the cameras without the benefit of layers of makeup and Photoshop:
How she “normally” looks, or at least how she appeared in material sold to fans:
She recently “graduated” from AKB48 to the rank of minor celebrity, at the advanced age of 21 in any case now being far too old for inclusion in their ranks.
Even this event proved controversial amongst her creepy fans, who were soon decrying the loss of their “investment” in her, but otherwise her career has been bland and largely bereft of scandal, making her a model member.
AKB48 fans and detractors alike are shocked at the results:
“She doesn’t look the slightest bit like a celebrity there…”
“She can fade out as a commoner now.”
“She looks worse than a normal person.”
“How can you say this after seeing her usual pics!”
“They really worked hard with Photoshop on those.”
“She’s just ugly!”
“Maybe she looks just normal, but in a reasonable way. Although you would never believe she was a model or actress from those.”
“Isn’t she just one of those girls who end up changing a lot going into their twenties from her teens?”
“She looks like a man…”
“If you mixed her in with normal students she would be in the lower half.”
“She’s really ugly. How did they get her gussied up so nicely? The power of makeup?”
“Makeup. Genuinely cute girls look cute even without makeup.”
“She looks about right for letting otaku think they could realistically marry a girl like this.”
Atsuko was one of those girls that I never found to be really attractive, even in photos, MVs, AKBINGO, etc. However, even I have to say this is overreaching.
The lightning is terrible, she has a sour face (little sleep?), has those horrible glasses on and, more importantly, she’s not smiling.
that must be different people.
one woman can not look that different.
More like totally manly without photoshop. Her untouched chin & bone structure screams manface.
I think most people forgot the fact that she is a hard working girl. No matter how pretty you are with or without make-up, tiredness can get to people and make them look worse.
I think Atsuko looks the same here except her lips isn’t glossy/sparkly and you can see the bags under her eyes. Maybe a few pimples? but isn’t that normal for a teenage girl to have?
Me with my make-up on looks like one of the idols too, but just because I don’t wear them doesn’t mean I’m “totally ugly”
She IS ugly as f♥♥k, even with makeup, lol.