She went through over 50 surgeries trying to look like Angelina Jolie… and nearly lost her life in the process
Back in 2017, the internet was shaken by the bizarre images of a girl from Tehran
known as Sahar Tabar. Her pale face, sunken features, and haunting appearance
left users stunned — was this real or a digital illusion?
Some dubbed her the “Iranian Jolie” , while others claimed she looked straight out of a Tim Burton movie
.
But what was the truth behind this viral transformation?
According to reports, she had allegedly gone under the knife over 50 times and lost around 40 kilograms
in a bold attempt to mimic the Hollywood actress
.
Her page blew up overnight , drawing in hundreds of thousands of followers. But the question lingered: was this a cry for attention, or a strange art form?
Sahar later broke her silence:
“I never aimed to become Angelina or a creepy bride . Everything I posted was meant to be artistic
— people simply misunderstood it.”
Eventually, it was revealed that the dramatic appearance wasn’t the result of excessive surgeries, but rather a mix of expert makeup , visual effects
, and digital editing
. She had crafted an illusion the world couldn’t look away from.
But not everyone saw it that way.
In 2019, local authorities arrested her , accusing her of “spreading immorality” and “insulting cultural values”
. In 2020, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison
.
Global outrage followed.
“She’s only 19 ,” rights activists cried. “This was performance, not a crime. Her future shouldn’t be destroyed over filtered photos
.”
After 14 months in jail, she was quietly released . Appearing later on national television
, she showed the real face behind the story — not a monster, but an ordinary young woman. A little cosmetic work, and a lot of digital illusion.
“Yes, I had minor procedures. But the viral photos? That was makeup, filters, and creative editing. The rest was people’s imagination.”