69 Comparison Pics Of People Showing Off The Glow-Ups They Are Proud Of

Although the term “glow-up” is most often used for physical transformations, its origins suggest a deeper meaning. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “glow-up” comes from the word combination “grow-up,” as it’s about maturing, evolving, and reaching your best stage. The “glow” part is about physical appearance, though: a person is told they’re “glowing” when they look physically pleasant and when someone wants to pay them a compliment.

In the “after” photos, people tend to look more physically fit, healthier, and happier. But the “glow-up” trend is not without its critics. Many point out how the trend can be toxic and promote unhealthy ways to “looksmaxx.” Critics claim that a “glow-up” is about appearance only, promotes short-term, unsustainable changes, and fuels toxic diet culture.

There are some problems at the roots of the “glow-up” movement. It presupposes that a bigger body, acne, or unruly hair makes a person unworthy of attention and love. As Kirsten Oelklaus, Co-Founder and Program Director at Bellatore Recovery, told Vogue UK, “glow-up” before-and-afters often focus on weight changes, feeding into the misconception that thinness equals happiness.

“It is not uncommon for individuals struggling with body image and self-esteem issues to feel validated when they can measure change in their worth through numbers – clothing sizes and numbers on the scale,” she explained. “Unfortunately, this path forces the person to continue to seek additional change, reinforcing the frame that they are never enough.”

But there are ways for the “glow-up” trend to be positive. Instead of promoting thin, acne-free bodies, it should focus on a healthy lifestyle. As you’ll see in many of the before-and-afters on this list, a true glow-up is about a person taking care of their body and mind and, in many cases, accepting their true selves.

Perhaps the most touching cases of “glow-ups” are the transformations of trans people. A glow-up takes on a different meaning in the context of trans people. As Alexis Moulton writes for The State Press, “Celebrating a viral glow up can be empowering and validating to the transgender experience, given the community's history of struggle against cultural and systemic barriers to access to transitional healthcare.”

Glow-ups are usually depicted as sudden, overnight transformations. In reality, real change takes time and effort, and it doesn’t require many hacks and tricks. A healthy lifestyle can often be boiled down to a few simple rules: getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and getting your stress levels under control.

Of course, all of these are easier said than done. According to Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Christine Stahl, a healthy diet can greatly improve our general well-being. The most important thing is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. “Less processed foods and more whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins,” Stahl says.

Good sleep habits might be underrated, as it’s one of the most important things for our short-term and long-term health. According to the CDC, one in three adults in the U.S. doesn’t get enough sleep, and that can lead to chronic conditions, heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. We need those holy seven hours a night, so treat sleep like the biggest biohack that’s available to you. And it’s free!