Filters or fillers? Madonna’s shock new look and transformation over the years – the pop queen sparked surgery rumours again after her unrecognisable Grammys TikTok
Since releasing her debut album in 1983, Madonna’s incredible musical genius has been celebrated by fans worldwide. She’s been able to reinvent herself, remaining relevant during her long career. And just as her music has been revamped over the decades, so too has her appearance.
The Queen of Pop has the ability to transform herself while looking apparently ageless. At 63, she looks as young as ever – but there has been some concern about how.
She posted a TikTok video ahead of the 2022 Grammy Awards on April 3, which left many fans unsettled. The video showed Madonna bearing little resemblance to what fans are used to seeing of her.
The comments section on the post had some fans thinking she had undergone drastic plastic surgery while others said it was a filter, referring to her as the “filter queen”.
Others suggested it was an overuse of fillers and Botox, referencing her wrinkle-free face at over 60.
But what is Madonna’s stance on surgery? Here’s what we know about her transformation over the years.
Surgery denial
Back in 2012, the Material Girl faced questions over her youthful appearance, with many wondering if she had plastic surgery. The singer famously told the media that, “I am certainly not against plastic surgery. However, I am absolutely against having to discuss it.”
She hasn’t been afraid to hit back at speculation about her appearance. In 2018, it was rumoured that she had butt implants after giving a surprise performance at The Stonewall Inn in New York City on New Year’s Eve.
A video of her went viral after it appeared to show what looked like implants around her bum. Madge, in an apparent response to the speculation, spoke about body image on her Instagram. She wrote: “Desperately seeking no one’s approval and entitled to free agency over my body like everyone else!” She used the captions #respect, #freedom and #nodiscrimination.
Another filter and a denial
After concerns were raised about her appearance on her TikTok video ahead of the Grammy Awards, the Like a Virgin singer poked fun at the rumour mill, posting another video of herself using a very obvious filter.
In the caption, she was showing off her necklaces, pointing out that they were not real and part of the filter. She then added, “but everything about this filter is real”. Fans took the video as a surgery denial and someone dubbed her the “Bratz doll queen”.
Health focus
While questions remain around her possible surgical interventions over the years, there is one thing Madonna has always been open about: her consistency with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
In September 2021, while performing at the MTV Video Music Awards to celebrate the 40th anniversary of MTV, Madonna’s incredible body was on full display as she performed her 1990 hit song, Vogue. She rocked a full black leather outfit.
Madonna’s youthful appearance had the world talking, but don’t think that body came easy. One of her trainers, Craig Smith, told British media in 2016 that she trains six days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes per session. He said that she does interval training, boxing, resistance training and yoga. Intense workouts and healthy eating contribute to her impressive physique.
She has a love-hate relationship with her body
Madonna has admitted that even though her body is the envy of many, she faces doubt and insecurities just like millions of people around the world. She told Entertainment Tonight she has a love-hate relationship with her body. “Some days I’m happy with it and other days … I wasn’t born with Gisele Bündchen’s body, unfortunately, so you got to work for it – but it’s OK.”
According to Life and Style Magazine, Madonna said she enjoys putting her body under pressure, exposing it to different exercises. She said she “shocked” her body and would often surprise her friends with the intensity of her workout sessions.
Taking it slow and eating right
Madonna has been vocal about her love of Ashtanga yoga and, according to Life and Style Magazine, the musician considers yoga a metaphor for her life. She said, “You have to take it really slowly. You can’t rush. You can’t skip to the next position. You find yourself in very humiliating situations, but you can’t judge yourself. You just have to breathe, and let go. It is a workout for your mind, your body and your soul.”
The singer focuses on a macrobiotic diet, eating beans, nuts, vegetables and a lot of fish. She is known to drink ginger tea, which is believed to improve blood and air flow, and is an avid fan of coconut water – even investing US$1.5 million in a company that offers the beverage in 2010, reported Pop Sugar.
