Several years ago, Sahar Tabar went viral for posting bizarrely edited images of herself that made her appear as a ghoulish version of the Hollywood actress. The photos quickly spread across the internet, making her a social media sensation overnight.
In the heavily altered images, Sahar appeared almost skeletal — with hollow cheeks, unnaturally light blue eyes, and a greyish complexion. Her look was both shocking and strangely captivating to millions who stumbled upon her posts.
She was charged with multiple offenses, including blasphemy, promoting violence, earning income through “improper means,” and corrupting the youth. Many believe her arrest was part of a larger crackdown on online influencers and social media figures in the country.
Initially sentenced to 10 years in prison, Sahar ultimately served about 14 months before being released — a decision that drew widespread attention across Iranian media and online communities worldwide.
In reality, Sahar is believed to have had only a few cosmetic procedures, including rhinoplasty, liposuction, and lip fillers. The rest of her transformation was the result of dramatic makeup and heavy photo editing.
Once her true story came to light, many people were curious to see what she actually looked like in real life — and those questions were finally answered when she appeared on television following her release.
Gone was the skeletal, haunting look that made her infamous in 2017. Instead, she appeared as a normal young woman, far removed from the “Zombie Angelina Jolie” persona she once portrayed online.
Reflecting on her past choices, Sahar said during the broadcast: “My mother was telling me to stop, but I didn’t listen. Sometimes the words of a stranger or a friend can be more important than those of a parent.”
One user wrote: “It’s amazing how many people put so much thought into what other people are doing to be comfortable in their own skin.”
Another added: “Wow! It’s so sad what lengths people would go to for fame…”
Throughout the ordeal, it became clear that Sahar had long dreamed of being in the public eye.
Since childhood, she had aspired to become well-known — even if it meant creating an unconventional persona to get there.
She revealed that her goal had been to grow her online following and attract attention through shock value rather than surgery.
Speaking about her rise to fame, she said: “Cyberspace was an easy way,”
Adding to that, she noted: “It was much easier than becoming an actor.”
