Faceswap

Here is an example of some images you can create fairly easily for the Faceswap activity for the Mirror Mirror Session of I’m The Girl I Want To Be.

I’ve used snapchat to take these but you can also use Instagram or tiktok or any other filter generator. Its best for each course leader to do this with their own image as the young people can then see the pictures next to your face in real life and better notice the subtle differences between the images (which are less obvious on strangers). I’ve put these on a grid using the app ‘layout’ but you can also just print them and place them out separately so the group can order them as part of the activity.

The central image is ‘real’. I took a quick picture stood in my hall, with my coat still on after coming in after a day, so it’s a natural representation of me ‘at my very average’. The others then range from fun and silly to rather scary (where is my nose top-right?!) (and please can I have those freckles bottom-left?!) The purpose is not to shame anyone for having fun with filters… but just asking ‘When does it stop being me?’ ‘If I used this filter every time I posted would I be sharing my genuine self?’ ‘Does that matter?’ ‘How does the contrast feel when looking back to my real face?’ (I didn’t think I looked that tired when I took it but as soon as I’ve been virtually hydrated, filled and smoothed over in the one to the right and the one below - I look back at the real one and feel upset about it!)

If we can land at any point from this activity it would be to allow ourselves the honesty to be mindful of things we engage with for fun that ban both boost and crush our confidence in the space of seconds. It’s a very subtle effect that this has on me…but it’s not an insignificant one.

It is a bit of fun…but if something does leave you feeling a little deflated then allow yourself to notice that and engage with it more mindfully next time. It’s always ok to look out for your feelings.