Monday Musings on The New Frontier of Fake
Happy Monday Ladies. It may sound strange, but I get a great sense of accomplishment from working my way through my ironing pile. I watched random YouTube videos, and generally zoned out. What I noticed, is that this pile had more colorful items than ever before and I’m not sure if I like it. I have no problem styling bright, colorful outfits in a try-on, but comitting to them long term is a different story.
As promised, here’s a snap of what I wore yesterday. I worked from home, did a ton of laundry, ironed for several hours, then we walked to a local restaurant for dinner. As you know, I usually wear neutrals so this shirt was a stretch for me. The waittress immediatly complimented me on it, and proceeded to tell me that she only wears neutrals, which I found rather funny.
She’s Not Real
I ran into a profile on Instagram a few weeks ago that stopped me mid-scroll. This woman, claiming to be 63, looked spectacular (more like 50) and was sharing her reinvention story. She’d survived a midlife divorce, conquered her low energy, lost weight, smoothed out her skin, and completely turned her life around by “making the right choices.” She even made a video with her daughter talking about the pure joy of being a grandmother.
It was warm, it was relatable, but the problem is, she isn’t real. She’s entirely AI-generated. The “daughter,” the “grandchildren,” the mid-life awakening…are all lies, likely cooked up by some 22-year-old tech bro who knows how to manipulate an algorithm. And of course, she was selling something.
The wildest part was I noticed several women I know were following her. Did they know she wasn’t real? I’m guessing not. Meta has stated that they require AI to be labeled, but they’re not enforcing the rule, so it’s becoming like the wild, wild west out there.
The first AI woman I spotted several months ago now has millions of followers. She’s styled to look like an impossibly perfect, fabulously wealthy older woman, dispensing pearls of wisdom like, “Darling, a woman doesn’t let anyone tell her how she should think.” And “Darling, a wise woman knows…” With over a few million followers, her bio is now selling a book!
You have to appreciate the absolute irony of a digital puppet telling real women how to think, all while selling a book on confidence. Buy the book, and you too can look and behave just like her! Except you can’t, because she’s made of pixels.
We’re being flooded with these AI personas engineered to prey on our confidence. They use deeply human psychological triggers because those are the exact stories that build instant trust. It bypasses our natural skepticism because we want to believe that kind of reinvention is possible.
But it’s a double-edged sword of deceit.
On one side, older women are being sold a load of absolute bull. We’re being told we can achieve a level of physical perfection that does not exist in nature. On the other side, younger women are being fed a terrifying narrative about aging. They’re being shown these hyper-glossy digital avatars as the only acceptable way to grow older, reinforcing the lie that wrinkles and life experience are things to be feared and erased.
It’s funny, but we used to worry about airbrushing in magazines. Now, the entire person is an illusion.
The technology has gotten so good that a video is no longer glitchy when a hand moves or a person walks so it’s getting harder to spot.
The beauty and wellness industries have always played on women’s insecurities to get us to spend money, but creating entire fake women to do it? That is a whole new level of low.
We like to think we’re smarter than that. And right now, maybe we are. But as this technology improves, and it will, rapidly…the line between real and AI is going to vanish completely.
Readers Questions
If you have questions of your own you can pop them in the comments or hit reply to the email of this post.
Q – Can you tell me what eyeliner you use?
A – This one is simple, I began using this Stila Waterproof Liquid Liner Pen. It’s like a felt-tip pen that I started using about 6 years ago and haven’t found a better one. I use Alloy, which is a soft gray, and I also have it in Intense Labradorite, which I use when I want a smokier eye. I’ve tried soft pencils more times than I can count, but no matter how soft they claim to be, they drag on the loose skin along my lashline. Here are a few other brands:
Q – Please help a silver haired /salt and pepper lady with brown eyes discover a shade of brown that works.
A – Color analysis is iffy at best in a virtual situation, and even in person, the accuracy of your results depends on the system they use and the competence of the person analyzing you. I would suggest you start by determining if you have a warm or cool undertone. Then you may find it helpful to discover your personal contrast level. Finally, try on many shades of brown, snap selfies, and study them to see which ones drain energy from your face and which ones make you look most vibrant.
Q – I have a question about slip shorts. I have a long summer dress that is thin fabric. I do not want my legs to show through when it’s sunny. Are slip shorts good for that, or do I wear a traditional half-slip?
A – Since slip shorts conform to your legs, the shape of your legs will show through the sheer dress fabric. I recommend a slip.
There are lots of great things still available at the Nsale and while I am not going to beat this sale to death, I wanted to share some new collections I’ve made.
Here are some great sweater jackets, which I find comfy and wearable in the fall. I refreshed and update this collection of Trench Coats and I ordered this one. I also added more wide-leg jeans to this collection, because we’re going to be seeing lots of them this fall.
Let’s chat about these AI profiles? Have you noticed them popping up in your feeds, your search results, or in advertisements? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks, Jennifer, for highlighting rain coats in the Nordstrom sale. I am in need of one and found it! Have a great week!
I do think that all AI generated content should have a disclosure label. AI is often damaging and manipulative; and there is so much of it now. I rely on a concept called “the uncanny valley” – AI that is very close to looking and sounding human feels creepy. I have paid more attention to this creepiness factor to filter out AI from what I am viewing. On the topic of aging, I am the same age as Madonna. While watching her in the FIFA final halftime show, I felt sad for her – so desperate not to look her age. She looked very uncomfortable in her own skin. I remember a phrase from awhile ago about “aging unapologetically”. I am trying to follow that philosophy.
I most enjoy following you because you are real and honest with your followers! Thank you for being you!
Just googled you to make sure you’re not AI. I figured with the pictures you posted of your skin and nose issues, you had to be real. The google search seemed to confirm that you are. The problem with AI is that sometimes you ask a question that you know the answer to, and it gives you the wrong answer. Nonetheless, too many of us trust everything we read and see. Thanks for a very timely warning/caution/reminder about who and what to trust.
I’m real but an AI model could easily duplicate me and you’d have a hard time figuring it out. It’s funny you mention me, because for the first time ever, the alternative text for my picture includes “real woman”.
Thank you for bringing the AI info to our attention. I too had noticed a lot of rubbish out there on the internet. Always wanting to sell us products!
Most of us can tell fake from fiction however all reminders are much appreciated. I especially dislike fake medical information. It’s cruelty disturbing.
There’s a lot of that medical misinformation. Most people can not spot the AI. It’s getting that good.
Yikes that is so alarming and freaky Jennifer! I’ve seen the “darling” woman and had no idea. You’re other example sounds so horrible. It is the Wild West it there! Thanks for sounding the bell.
One more question about the Quince skirt. Did you order a petite?
No I didn’t but I like my maxis long.
Thank you, ordering it now.
That is very disturbing, AI generated influencers. And that so many people are following. What made you know it was fake, just the “too good to be true” aspect of this perfect person’s life, or something else? Thanks
If you watch the videos very closely, over and over, the face and eyes changed subtly.
I find your blog to be the most real and the most helpful!
Thanks Linda. I’m sure real ☺️
I’ve had my eye on that linen skirt from Quince. I’ll be anxious to see how you wear it.
AI is out of control and scary! You were able to tell that you were watching AI but I worry about impressionable teens and those who are struggling with aging buying into this fantasy. Are there any controls put on what they can say? Are they required to say AI generated? I usually look for that but don’t know if it must be listed as AI. I guess buyer beware.
Meta states that AI must be labeled but they’re not enforcing it so few accounts are complying. I also worry about young people. And old people. And all of us.
I really dislike that fake stuff too. All of a sudden on FB you see all these women talking about how much their children dislike them, have chosen to completely abandon their parents and have a no contact policy. I felt so bad reading about that. Hearing those stores. How sad it must be. And then I noticed I was getting invites to join a group of women to discuss the above. All for $1000 if I act fast. Ridiculous.
That’s awful!!!
Back in the 1970s when I took my first marketing class the professor used a case study featuring one of the big cosmetics companies. I don’t remember which company it was, maybe Revlon or Estée Lauder. The lesson to be learned was that they didn’t sell “makeup;” they sold “hope.” The AI generated women of 2026 are just “hope2.2” with new wrinkle-free faces, flat tummies and bionic hips. But it’s the same message: women must maintain physical perfection, and they can if they use xyz products. I fell for it then; these days I try to have a sense of humor about it.
Pope Leo has an enlightening encyclical regarding AI and how it can never replace human relationships and the inherent dignity of all persons.
So true, but it’s duping everyday.
AI is kind of terrifying when used to create fake people and events. It certainly has beneficial uses but the examples you pointed out are just plain creepy. Thanks for broaching the subject. It’s an important one.
I have noticed AI You Tube channels. I even watched a couple of videos before I found out it was AI. I fear they will push out real people and I don’t like it one bit. They need to be labeled as such.
There are a ton of AI You Tube channels
and they’re very successful. They will put many creatives out of business.
I haven’t seen any of these puppet ladies yet but now I want to be on the lookout for a couple. This is very creepy and yet funny but I feel bad for the women who are taken in by this. On another topic, I’m trying the Stila eyeliner because I’ve been having the same issue you mentioned with a pencil. Looking forward to trying it. Thanks!
There are lots of versions, this just happens to be my favorite.
I’m sure these “fakies” are on my Instagram feed, but I’m not savvy enough to spot them. Social media really isn’t as fun/helpful as it used to be!
I wear a lot of neutrals, too–especially navy. But I also own that purple cotton gauze shirt. I’m guaranteed to get at least one compliment every time I wear it! People definitely do notice color, and I have to admit that I feel good wearing it.
I try to be aware of the accounts and videos that I watch. But I agree that it’s getting harder to weed out the AI creations. I’m determined to stick with the accounts like yours that I know for certain are real!
I am very, very concerned about these AI generated profiles. How can we check to see who is real or not? We need education to spot fakes and to report them. We are all so vulnerable especially in these times of uncertainty and anxiety. People are looking for ways to reduce anxiety but therapy is out of reach for so many. People then go on instagram to look for answers. The algorithms then send you all sorts of information. It is so scary.
I’ve reported many accounts but Meta does not care.