Farah Faizal, a marketing manager from Malaysia, has opened up about the dramatic changes her face underwent during pregnancy, saying her appearance altered “100 percent.”
In a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), Farah shared side-by-side, unfiltered photos: one taken before pregnancy showing clear skin and rosy cheeks, and another taken during pregnancy, where her face appeared red, swollen, and covered in cystic acne-like bumps. Her nose had also visibly enlarged, with deep lines forming along her cheeks, nose, and forehead.
The changes began two months into her second pregnancy, starting with pustules and redness “like a sunburn,” then progressing to swelling and deepening wrinkles.
“I asked my friend, ‘Why are other pregnant women so beautiful? Just glowing? Why am I the only one affected like this?’” she wrote. While she felt insecure, her husband reassured her it was temporary and continued to compliment her. Her best friend also encouraged her to share her journey publicly.
Farah said she wanted to shed light on the less-discussed realities of pregnancy:
“It’s not just about the cute bump and baby kicks. There are physical, emotional, and mental changes. Every woman’s experience is different and should be acknowledged.”
She also had a message for men:
“Appreciate your wife. She has sacrificed her body to give birth to your child. Don’t say an epidural is a ‘cheat code.’”
Farah gave birth in July and says her skin is now slowly healing with the help of monthly laser treatments.