Instagram star Gessica Kayane–better known as Gkay–is fresh back from her trip to Brazil. She encountered an unexpected scenario that left her blindsided. Kayane has been able to amass the attention of 20 million followers on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. She blogs about her experiences with cosmetic procedures in minute detail. She touched down in Brazil on April 10, but was immediately detained by immigration officials at an undisclosed airport.
When she showed her passport, Kayane was subjected to a high-level questioning from immigration agents who said they were worried about how she looked. In fact, the influencer called out a huge gap between her current appearance and her passport photo. Otherwise, Kayane told us, “I would have been banned from entering the country. All the images on my paperwork are completely different from what my appearance is now.”
The zeal over this particular change underscores the contentious issue of racial profiling and the evolution of appearance and travel documentation. According to the US Department of State, travelers are not required to apply for new passports due to minor changes in their looks. Kayane’s experience highlights just how large changes are becoming a barrier to navigating the international travel landscape.
Kayane has undergone various cosmetic enhancements, which include a slender nose, chiseled chin, plump cheeks, full lips, and long bright red hair. She documents her physical transformation candidly on social media. We’ve shared hundreds of her amazing “before and after” photos, which beautifully speak for themselves in showcasing her stunning transformations.
“First things to do back to Brazil: update all the photos of my documents,” she stated following her experience at the airport. And her wonderful social media did the work of sharing how she was transforming. This was probably enough to alleviate most of the concerns expressed by immigration officials.
Gemma Brown is the Head of Product at the UK online travel agent Travel Republic. Usability advocate Cyd Harrell once noted the wider potential implications of improved passport photo UX. As Brown pointed out, making yourself look too different in your photos can increase verification check times at airports. Doing things to simplify your appearance can help get you through the process more quickly.
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