Taiwanese K-pop star who refused Photoshop draws praise from fans

i-dle's Shuhua / Xportsnews

Shuhua of K-pop girl group i-dle has once again drawn attention for her honesty — this time by publicly revealing that her selfie was Photoshopped without her consent.

The controversy began when a photo of Shuhua was posted online with retouching. According to reports, the editing was done not by the singer herself, but by her agency, Cube Entertainment.

On the fan communication platform Bubble, Shuhua shared the original photo and wrote, “This is the original. The company weirdly Photoshopped it, and I got mad, so I told them not to do it again.”

She added, “I personally checked and sent the final photos, but suddenly it turned out like this. These are pictures for Neververs (the fandom), and I told them not to send strange ones. Why would you give fans a photo I don’t even like myself?”

Shuhua’s photo edited by her agency, left, and the original she posted herself / Captured from Shuhua’s fan platform

While most celebrities prefer light digital retouching to enhance their appearance, Shuhua’s refusal to alter her looks won her even more praise from fans. Comments flooded online platforms calling her “so true to herself” and “the most authentic idol in K-pop.”

Known for her natural and minimalist image, Shuhua has long been vocal about rejecting excessive beauty standards. In a previous personal post, she explained why she doesn’t wear makeup or accessories, saying, “I’m not a materialist, but I like to enjoy life. People often ask, ‘Why don’t you wear makeup or dye your hair?’ I may not decorate myself much, but before I go out, I look in the mirror, brush my hair and tidy up — because that’s what feels comfortable for me.”

She continued, “Everyone has different tastes and goals. I like being natural, and I love myself this way. Maybe I look less polished to others, but I think I’m precious as I am. That’s my definition of beauty. No matter what people say, I’ll keep loving myself as I am.”

Shuhua / Xportsnews

Shuhua’s stance — choosing sincerity over image — has once again earned admiration, especially in an industry often defined by curated visuals and perfectionism. Many fans see her as a symbol of confidence and self-acceptance within K-pop’s rigid beauty culture.

Meanwhile, i-dle, which renewed its contract with Cube Entertainment last December, continues preparing for future projects. The agency said at the time, “We will give our full support to help g-idle expand their presence on larger stages and higher levels.”

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.