Lauren Goodger edits photos to ease her anxiety and compares filters to make-up

Lauren Goodger has defended editing her photos, which she has compared to using makeup or dyeing your hair.

The former TOWIE star, 33, explained that she uses filters on her Instagram photos to help with her anxiety as she has been trolled for her pictures in the past, which affected her mental health.

Speaking to new! magazine, Lauren hit out at the news that an MP is calling for edited photos to be clearly labelled on social media, something she called “ridiculous”.

She seemed to believe that the proposed bill was calling for a complete ban on filters and editing photos, rather than the clear labelling it actually proposes.

Lauren said: What’s next – shall we get rid of makeup? Shall we ban hair dye? These are things that change how you look and make you feel better.

“When I change the filter on my images it helps with my anxiety, as it makes me feel good and takes my mind elsewhere.

“Celebrities and non-celebrities use filters on Instagram, as it’s just light-hearted and harmless.”

Lauren believes she has been unfairly targeted for editing her snaps.

She continued: “I was singled out for being someone who had retouched a photo, then I was trolled online – that in turn was bad for my mental health.

“Why can’t we just celebrate everyone?”

Dr. Luke Evans MP has drawn up a Bill which would mean social media users would have to legally label images that have been edited to change the way they look.

He says edited photos are fuelling a “mental health crisis” and creating a “warped view” of beauty.

But Lauren disagreed, saying: “I think it’s ridiculous that an MP is concentrating on Instagram filters and retouching when we’re in the midst of a global pandemic and an economic crisis!”