why I stopped using filters (on social media & IN REAL LIFE)… 

filters went crazy after snapchat dropped the dog filter, we were never the same again😂

I also consciously stopped using filters because it’s important for me to show up as my authentic self and encourage people to do the same. I think the saddest thing about filters is that most people don’t realize that people online are heavily using filters so it creates unrealistic expectations of what everyday people look like. We all have to free ourselves. Thanks for sharing ❤

No, but it’s so true! That’s why I usually shy away from anything that can greatly change my appearance and I can’t recreate organically. I don’t want to distort my self perception, making a false connection between my beauty and a filter. I want to grow comfortable with my own face, appreciating every single bit of it in its natural state. Never used a filter, never worn lash extensions or colored eye contacts, don’t use foundation, nothing! That way, whenever I look in the mirror, doesn’t matter the circumstance, I always know what to expect (and can appreciate what I see).

Always remember “You will never influence the world by trying to be like it”. I love Isi shes so different. I see why Josh married her.

I remember when Snapchat filters came out, I used them so often that I did not like the way I looked when I took a picture with just my regular camera. I used that dog filter daily lol. But this video has made me realize that over time as I grew closer to God those filters did not matter to me anymore and I also just stopped taking as many selfies altogether as well, it just did not feel important to me and felt a little vain because I was taking pictures constantly. I'm so thankful to God for that convicton.

We need more influencers who get real about stuff like this. Particularly for black women, we are judged more harshly for our looks.

Isi is like an older sister, being the youngest and only girl of a mother that always is at work she's really helped me learn alot about social media, life and help me in so many ways. also to stop comparing my life to my friends and other people, and has helped me loads with self love and confidence I'm truly grateful that I found her, hearing her talk is like my therapy.

As a muslim woman i love seeing you talk about the importance of trusting God and loving yourself because we are creatures of God . We have to appreciate and cherish ourselves and try to take care of our own health and all that . Thank you for making me feel heard and seen ❤

You are sooo self aware. In watching you from the beginning, I can see the paradigm between the career and the real person. You are very good at self correcting. Thanks for the transparency.

I don’t have any one older to go to for advice I lost my parents young and Isi I’ve been watching you and Josh since highschool and y’all have really given me gems to take on as I grow. Thank you for your realness and wisdom ❤

#filterfree I’ve always been a filter girl bc of the insecurities of my skin. But as it’s healed and as I mature idc if they see it or they don’t! SM is suppose to be a platform to express yourself and that’s what I’m here for.. plus make some $$ 😂 purrr💁🏾‍♀️ Thank you Isi for being vulnerable with us, love you sis❤

Ppl don't grow out of vanity. Let me find out God is calling you girl 👀 thought I was "growing up" and becoming "woke" but God was calling me. Found myself cleaning my makeup throwing away this etc. And crying my eyes out reoenting. Found my life more beautiful. And sis you preaching, praying God continues his work in you. This is just the start💜 to a new leaf🙌🏽🙏🏽

Thank you for bringing Jesus in to the conversation- you are awesome

#FilterFree ! I haven't watched yet but I love that you're doing this video!!! I too stopped using filters almost 2 years ago now around the same time I stopped getting my lashes done. I feel they both go hand in hand and can really mess with your mental perception of yourself.

gurlllll.... we misss you out here

Your so right I love this whole video and this coming from a male perspective I watch your personal channel and you and josh couple channel I love how authentic and open y’all is when it comes to telling us about things y’all have over come as y’all continue to grow because so many people struggle with trying to keep up with others life and I love the fact y’all encourage people to be themselves

Isi please come back and continue posting such content the world is hungry and in need of such truth!

I always knew that filters opened the door to chaos with us BW but I never thought about it too deep. I learned personally, years ago, that I didn’t wanna create that mask for myself..wether it be make up or filters. My face is my face, I’m proud in it . I wish everyone was proud in theirs too 🙁 sending hugs

You literally just came to mind. I came to your page and haven’t seen any recent videos. I just wanted to say that I pray you are mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually doing okay. I pray whatever silent battles that might be in season you are able to overcome. You are enough , you are loved, you are beautiful. I can’t speak for anyone else but I miss seeing your videos.. I hope all is well my love 🫶🏾🩵

As some who has been apart of quality crew since the beginning, it is so heartwarming to hear you go from bf to my fiance to my husband 🥰🥰

This is soooooo RELATABLE!!! Been following you since you started, thanks for making this video. It’s crazy because the 2nd week of November I deactivated my IG and TikTok, it was consuming me. I decided to take my RU-vid channel seriously. When I made my 1st vid without fliters, I was scared and embarrassed. I didn’t find myself beautiful without a filter. I had to get used to not using filters. I’m realizing I’m still just as beautiful and I actually like my face better without the filters. That’s why I enjoy RU-vid more because it’s not like the other platforms. I feel like RU-vid is raw and uncut, which I LOVE

#Filterfree hey ISI, I really don’t use filters because I love my natural beauty I wanted to use filters because of insecurities but just shows them……I love how you so transparent with everything ❤

The amount of love I have for this video being posted is crazy. I just started the Journey of my 20s and I agree social media has made it very toxic to live a real and authentic lifestyle. Women especially I find are trying to be everything and everyone while still being authentic and true to themselves. I don't post that often on social media, but if I did, I would definitely be heavy on the filters because as she said, I don't think that I'm pretty enough and I definitely don't think I am where I should have been at my age. I was actually talking to my older sister the other day and she was saying how God's filter is the best filter and it's so crazy that now I'm watching this video and she says the exact same thing

I needed to hear this. Thank you. As a single mom of two, I tend to make myself feel like I’m not accomplishing enough as the next person because I don’t have partner with the second income, I don’t have the extra help at home, I don’t have the extra financial freedom, the list is endless. You’re amazing and so inspiring.

The part when you talked about the performativeness resonated so much -- I accidentally deleted my Twitter in 2021 and shortly after decided to hibernate my IG and completely delete my FB and doing that helped me realize how performative I really was. I wasn't performative in the sense that "did it for the likes" because I'm NGL the likes weren't even there, haha! But I was "healing out loud" and posting so much about my behind the scenes and looking back I was like, was I healing or was I just eager to share? Deleting my Twitter accidentally was the best thing looking back because it literally knocked me off my soapbox. Thank you for being so transparent and leading by example, Isi!

Before I even started the video I felt this. I’ve def cut back so muchhhh . I don’t want to look back and see a filtered version of myself

I love how you talk to the different age groups who you know follow you! Glad to listen to you😊

As I am about to transition into a new phase of Womanhood, I am so thankful for the advice and positive influence you’ve given to us. Growth is beautiful on you Isi!

Unlearning unhealthy behaviors and relearning things. Or better yet learning healthy habits to replace the unhealthy skills we used in survival mode is not an easy journey. Not many are aware of the journey or even talk about it. So I enjoyed hearing you mention that in this video because I have been on a similar journey for years now, and when I look at the woman I am today and who I am becoming. I am reminded of just how worthy I am, and how important it is to pour back into myself. Ladies, you matter, and it is important to start working on yourself! Not just for who you will become one day, but for who you are today! For you are worth it, so don't give up on becoming who you are called to be in the eyes of Christ Jesus! Prayers and blessings are sent to all the ladies who are journeying to become.

I'm just here thinking about how I had to write an essay critiquing "the age of internet face"... I also realize that these are the same reasons I removed myself from social media, I am just not comfortable pretending to be someone or something i'm not and I will never pretend to fit in... I either do or don't and I'm ok with the latter. This explains so much, and as your supporter from 2016, I really really love the growth and I stay here because you keep it real 100%. Thanks for showing me reality by creating this community! 🇯🇲Onelove

Hi Isi. Your video is so inspirational and 100% on point. As I'm nearing my 20s(I'll be 19 soon), it's so important for us to accept ourselves for who we are. We don't need these filters in order for society to accept us. If they don't accept us for who we are, they're not worthy of us. At one point in my life, I did use filters when taking pictures but by then, I did not have a phone. I had friends that had filters on their phones so I would take pictures with them. I used to be made fun of for not having a phone throughout my entire childhood; there were some kids younger than me that had phones but I didn't and I was okay with it. I got my first phone when I was in grade 11 before COVID happened and when most of my classmates heard I got a phone, some were happy but others didn't really care. Also, I believe children having a phone when they are so young(ages 2/3 to 11/14) deeply scars them because they are taught at a very young age to put on a mask in order for society to accept them and what I've noticed with the latest trend is that you're supposed to 'fake it till you make it' and that is not what we are supposed to be teaching these young children. They should be allowed to enjoy their childhood without the need for all these phones and other gadgets. And I also thank God Almighty🙏🙏🙏 for showing me the way as well as keeping me all these years. He has never abandoned me and has shown me that you can still enjoy life without the filters and all this unnecessary stuff

I never got into filters, I am who I am, I look how I look. YEARS ago before filters a photographer who took our work pictures “edited” my pictures and I immediately I couldn’t stand them. I kept them because they’re of me, but they’ve always been in the drawer

Whew that social media audit is so necessary! I unfollowed hundreds of pages that were popular amongst my peers, because I started feeling so self conscious and couldn't help from creating these unhealthy comparisons to all these black women with money and altered bodies and 24/7 hair & makeup. Those are not the women I aspire to be like, and I really had to admit that I really wouldn't even want to live their lifestyles. I want to be me and continue to work towards whatever it is that contributes to my authentic happiness

I just admire Isi so much she's always so real and unfiltered (no pun intended) she speaks with elegance and truth and everything she says is just *chefs kiss*. I especially loved the part when she talks about not being put on a pedestal, many influencers and celebs want to be looked at in that way but our girl is here letting us know we're all the same in value 💌💞

This entire convo is IT 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 fully agree and love the transparency!!

It’s me sis ! I NEEDED TO HEAR ALL OF THIS!!! Especially what legacy I’m leaving behind, imposter syndrome and most I can relate to the girl speaking those “should statements” 😊😊 this is the main reason I follow you because God uses your experiences for us to relate to you because ISI IS JUST LIKE US 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Comparison is the thief of joy! -Unknown

Talking about spending 7:20 ... a "what i spend in a week" general and/or self care edition would be so dope

Hey everyone I hope you’re doing well. Sis you’re speaking the truth and I’m glad that you have these conversations.

omggg thank you big sister Isi

I've been going back and forth trying to figure out if I wanted to keep following your page because I thought you lived such an amazing life. And everytim I saw that I would either be jealous or look at myself in a way where I would say "your nor good enough" and because of this video I will continue to follow you and I know understand that no one is 100% okay, so with all that I wanna say thank you for the video. I honestly felt everything you said

8:26 i never really used filters, and i’ve stopped using social media in general. but i 1010% do always think about if a picture is “instagram-worthy” which is something i never even realized I did, but is such a subtle toxic mindset to have so thank you for making me realize to get that out of my mind

I love hearing how you have changed and grown over the years. I agree! If people stop assuming others are perfect everyone will stop comparing and feeling less than.

Hahaha I'm 32 & feel the same way!! God's blessing us all in different ways. So relax & let your life be controlled by the most high. Were all blessed & highly favored! ❤️

You're videos are ALWAYS on time!! 🙏❤ I definitely needed to hear this tonight, thank you Isi

To this day you still encourage me! I appreciate you genuinely for the vulnerability you show. Thank you for being someone I respect and continue to learn from!

Isimeme Girl you are sharing gems this ENTIRE video (per usual 💅🏾 )! Thank you for being transparent. Your obedience to God (by sharing what He puts in your heart) is truly a blessing to soooo many of us. This is so on time. P.S. the practice of asking yourself "Why?" 5 x's is so wise. I already started seeing things after the 3rd "Why?" 😂😂 We love and appreciate you! Blessings to you and Josh! ❤ P.P.S. The fact that the social media timeline is CALLED a "time line"...like no wonder there was so much pressure!

Hey Isi, I'm so happy to hear the way you have grown in your faith with God. I pray that through your continued faith the Holy spirit will guide every aspect of your life to higher heights. I pray you'll be a vessel used by God to reach many and lead them to God's kingdom. I pray that everything you lay your hands on will be blessed and produce fruit. May your life be a fruitful harvest💕💕💕 God loves you so much Isi beyond measure 💕💕

👏🏾👏🏾Me seeing this video after realizing just yesterday how much I have shifted the way I think about myself and the things I do even how i feel about the pictures i post!!! 😮 I was looking back at archives and said “omg I looked so happy, what’s changed😢?” SN: I am a double major in Grad school ( Dr of pharmacy and MS in Health services) so that factors into the change but social media is just different!!! The pedestals we place others on is UNHEALTHY. The amount of money someone makes doesn’t make them worthy to be worshiped! But Lately I have found myself being on Pinterest more just looking at random stuff (clothes, housing decor, party decor, school topics, cute hairstyles) that interest me without having to see the perfect image we have been pertraying and it’s has led me to see my life clearer and see how I want my life to be and not how society expects me to be at 25.

#FilterFree ❤🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 Luv ya queen 🙌🏽 can’t wait to apply this! Definitely a great topic to discuss because people are truly stuck in this mindset but I honestly believe removing the filter from your life and social media helps the real you shine ✨ ❤

#FilterFree love you ISI❤❤❤❤. I loved your vent session. Girl you hit so many spots in my heart and soul. Girl why couldn’t you live in Baltimore. Your my long lost friend you hear me. Thank you for being you and I’m glad you found the old and improved you. I loved when you wore Healy no makeup just lip gloss and eyebrows. But I still love the woman you are becoming. You like my long lost little sister. Josh is the brother from another he has so many gems he drops and I love that. Keep up the good work my love. I’m super proud of you guys. I’m team BeautyandBoh. Yea I took it way back lol

Love this so much sis! Thank you so much for allowing God to use you as a vessel to touch his people 🩵🙏🏽

This!!! I also found myself come to a point where I’m like do I need to post this??? For what?? And now I’m more in the moment. Also I laughed so hard when you said our 20’s are the first decade of adulthood. My partner & I always say, to be fair, I’m only 6 years old as an adult, I’m not gonna know it all right now. 🤣 So it was funny hearing someone else say it, we on the same wavelength.

I love these talks!! Found them in Gods timing! Love to hear you talk about faith! You are beautiful and appreciated

I’m glad that this is being talked about. I realized that the use of filters wasn’t making me like my own natural features and face. At the end of 2021 I decided to stop and I haven’t used a filter since. Now it’s 2023 and I absolutely can’t stand filters and I think I look worse with them on. Sometimes I tolerate them for group photos, but I pretty much had to reset my mind tbh. I hope that we can all embrace ourselves the way that we are, although I know it’s easier said than done.

*comes running towards you like a random crazy lady at the grocery store!* 😮Isi !!!!!!!!!!!!! DID I JUST SEE YOU IN A NEUTROGENA AD?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMGOODNESS! Congrats, Beautiful!🥰

Good for you for being honest and making the right changes. I’m so happy to say that I’ve never ever ever filtered myself in any of my content (RU-vid or Instagram). I’m real and I’m proud of that. I’m very honest in my content and I think that’s what draws people in. There’s so much fabrication these days that it’s difficult to know who’s real and who’s faking their life.

I dont feel any of that tbh. I've always done me. I think it's weird that's what the majority does and feels. People put to much emphasis on other people. You're not living your life, you're living to reach someone else's standards. The facade people place on themselves and others 😑 Crazy part is that society created those standards and everyone went along with it. That's weird af to me. Ive always been a lone wolf and so grateful that i continue to be in a world full of sheep.

I just had to hop on here and give you your flowers, letting you know how much I appreciate this video, and praying that many blessings come your way. This kind of message is really needed and long overdue in this world we are living in. I am about 10 years older than you with a daughter that is 13 and she will be watching this video. I didn’t grow up with the social media or filters, so I’ve never subscribed to any of it. My only social media is IG which I don’t use anymore because it became what it is and I would rather protect my peace and not be made to feel like I’ve been left behind. I do watch several YT creators, including you, but mainly only for learning and inspirational purposes. It is so important for our young ladies to know they are good enough and my hope is that more start to realize it. 💚

Awwwww u did it with this one I just said this to myself the other day chileeeeee I’m so ready to delete my photos n post me in my for me n cutting all this shit out yeah it was cool for the time but we don’t need that shit this generation so watered down and want to fit in so bad that it really is taking over n ppl are losing our identity as a whole not just on photos but mask off in every aspect of life girl u did this one ❤

just dropping a comment to say you're one of my favourite influencers. you always keep it transparent and ive definitely felt seen and learned a lot from both you and josh. God bless you abundantly 💜

This woman just speaking facts loveeeee itttt gooo offf

Channel TOO GOOD ISI!

#Filterfree transparency over here , love yaaa girl

The few influencers that I have met in real life have been extremely down to earth and almost even "ignore" the fact that they do have a following which I appreciate simply because we are all people and no one should feel less than just because of a follower number I do believe that this "social media era" has taken a toll on us as a generation in more ways than one, especially for those of us in our late 20s-early 30s who were there from the beginning and have seen the shift Lately there has been more of a shift to provide content that is more realistic and natural and I think that it will continue

"My husband." I'm so happy for you 💓, God bless your marriage 💑

Alright ISI it’s been a month! Where you been girl?

Isi is so transparent and honest. That’s why I love the content she posts. She’s not afraid to keep it real. ❗️👏🏽 Isi you should drop a video showing us how to do eyebrows and lip liner / makeup cuz your face is giving 😍

As a 25 yo woman I relate heavily with everything that was said. It's only now that I'm actively working on loving myself for who I am, inside and out, flaws and all. My goal is to get rid of any insecurity I have starting with my appearance (bags under my eyes, my teeth, my belly, scars on my skin...). It's a tough process but I'm happy cause I'm slowly getting there. I now have no problem looking at myself in the mirror and saying out loud that I'm beautiful without a wig or any make up on. I still have much more work to do especially when it comes to soul care and that can only be done through my relationship with God. But I'm getting there 😊 Isi, you impact people more than you know. This Black French little sister over here is inspired by your transparency and spirit everyday. Thank you for inspiring me to take more care of myself, starting with your videos about self care. You're an amazing human being and I can only hope to meet you one day God willing. Keep glowing and growing I love you Queen ❤🥰👑

I think the timeline of society has been rocking me and I sometimes think I should be somewhere by now but then a sense of realization returns. I think a whole session would be great about the timeline. And you are truly an inspiration. I have been looking up to you since high school and I still do. I miss ight have fallen because at one point I thought, well if Isi could’ve done this when she was that age, I can do it too. Until I stopped comparing myself to you and rather use you as a guide. If I’m not there then there is more. God gave us a purpose and we all have different purposes, even though they may be similar but they are different. Really enjoyed this vent session. And I recommend God’s filter 100% cause have you ever looked at nature? Beautiful, just amazing.

Hey honey you popped in my mind today. Hope all is well. Miss ya😊

#Filterfree I don’t remember the last time I used filter but when I stop using them I became so insecure on how I look because I never really seen how I naturally look so it really made me self aware and now I am confident on how I look and Don’t feel the need to use filter❤️

This video and your personality is exactly why I recommend your videos to our teenage daughter. Young ladies need to hear these things. Thank you for sharing your experience!

Loved the video!!! Love that your so transparent it really helps me a lot. I also suffer still with insecurities but I do try to upload pics naturally that looks nice to me nd some I’ll use a filter but I do understand how using a filter is fake I feel it every time I use one to be honest cuz I very aware of what I’m doin and yes ur right if we all jus loved ourselves nd respected each other for who we are the world be better place for sure. Love y’all nd thanks for always keep it a bean🤘🏾😂 #filterfree

Honestly it's been really challenging filtering through channels to watch because everyone seems to be copying from each other because it's what gets the most views. I appreciate your transparency. It's refreshing.

Omg, yes. I was just thinking about this and said let me go find a RU-vid video talking about this topic. There was this one filter on SC that I loved and I started not liking my actual face and I’m really pretty in real life. It’s crazy lol. New Sub🎉

From whenever i found your page i was already into you. But when you started to do your own thing even more it really made me more into you so…. It’s interesting of how much of who you are is what you didn’t know you were needing or missing.

This was a very interesting topic. You are 100% correct with what you're saying.I have a sister who doesn't wear makeup. All she does is wash her face and use moisturizer and her skin is beautiful. She's always saying that using makeup is covering up your natural beauty. Thank you for sharing.

TALK ABOUT THAT TIIIMEE LINE SISS!!! Omg the inadequacy we feel because we think we are never doing enough.

I surprised myself how fast I clicked on this video! I already know this I going to be a great video! ❤ #faveyoutuber

Yesss I’m loving this new content ❤❤

This is the isi I fell in love with on RU-vid the real one ❤. As someone who has been a subscriber from day one I got to watch the journey and I felt like she was so relatable and after a while I didn’t feel that way anymore I couldn’t relate so I unfollowed because I couldn’t relate ad a person anymore. But now I can feel it and I love that and I love that you are still loving the journey congratulations to you I’m happy for you

It's crazy that you made this video because this crossed my mind in the last month or so.

Thank you sis so much for this video. I would only use filters because of my insecurities, but if my skin is glowing theirs no reason to use filters. Society looks at us at a different perspective. So many people have struggled to embrace their natural features, which is why I don’t use filters as much since covid started. We should encourage other people to be themselves, and love ❤️ for who they are.

miss ur vids girlie! love watching your content, you remind me so much of my big sister before she went nuts🤣. i do love the ig content though so i’ll just chill out and enjoy 🤗. Anyways. I'm so glad you addressed this issue. Especially the point about how filters will distort your face into the Eurocentric beauty standard and just make you not look like yourself in general, when we're just fine as is. I used to feel super insecure that I've never been good at makeup, especially the contouring beauty face type of makeup. But I've realized I don't even feel comfortable contouring my features, especially not my nose. I have a wide nose and there is no point in hiding it as there's nothing wrong with it, and the makeup must come off at some point anyway. And I feel so much better now that i've curated my social media to only show me women who look like me and that love their natural selves. No shade to makeup of course, but It's not lost on me that some of the popular makeup styles are meant to hide ethnic features, and I don't believe in playing into that because we should normalize and appreciate our features!

love, love, loved this video God's filter Is the best filter

“you are beautiful and enough just the way you are.” that almost made me tear up, thank you so much isi!

#FILTERFREE 4L 🤞🏽🤞🏽 love you soo much Isi ❤️🫶🏾

Where is isi y’all?

Loved this topic. I stopped using filters years ago for that reason. I also believe if you keep faking who you are, you will lose yourself.

I just wanted to say THANKKKKK YOUUUUUUUU. Being 22 I needed to hear this because it is exhausting trying to be perfect for social media for people you don’t have even know nor care about. So thank youuu and you are beautiful I agree w josh u don’t neeed it!!!😊

I genuinely love you. You are so wise and I thoroughly enjoy the gems you and Josh drop to us. “You are responsible for the success of those who follow you.” That is so profound.

This video made me feel so comfortable thank you !! #filterfree

IsI journey with God makes me so happy cause every time I used to come on this channel, I used to pray for her (you isi x) because I could see she wasn’t being herself and there was some uncomfortable energy there. And I said to my sister, she is such a nice woman she would be amazing if she would act like herself which I didn’t know what yourself was but I knew it wasn’t that, and this started happening when you stopped doing hair videos and started doing other stuff which I love but it was a transition period so I get it. But I’m just glad God answers prayers even one’s you pray for others. So I’m really happy God is working in you, I see the literal GLOW X

Girl...I wish I was as smart as you when I was your age. God bless you for doing this video and showing so many young girls that they don't have to be fake and they are ok just the way they are.

Great video I love the part about asking yourself why 5 times to get to the root of the problem. I been heavy on the thinking about what I’m thinking about and questioning those thoughts and it’s really just allowed me to understand myself more on this self care journey ❤

I’m literally doing my dissertation on this. And the amount of information I found is crazy

Your husband is right you never needed a filter you are beautifully and wonderfully made by God, you are stunning ❤💯❤

Yeeessssss come on my fav Chicago RU-vidr! ❤❤❤❤❤

I am definitely guilty of filters😂 I'm beautiful wo one but my camera have me looking like a creature sometimes 😂😂😂😂