Mikayla Nogueira Defends Herself Against Accusations She Uses a Filter

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Mikayla Nogueira is logging off from this debate. 

Following a viral video from the premiere of the 20th Anniversary special of Hannah Montana, the TikToker responded to accusations that she uses filters to change how she looks online.

In a TikTok posted on March 30th, Mikayla stated she was done discussing a topic they’d been revisiting for six years, saying, “This is the last time I’m bringing it up.”

The 27-year-old, a popular beauty influencer on TikTok since 2020, said she was simply exhausted by the constant discussion about how she looks on the app.

She emphasized that she never uses filters on her videos, stating she’d strongly defend that practice. She demonstrated by filming directly in the TikTok app, showing her face with absolutely no filters or beauty mode. She explained she was simply sitting by a window on a cloudy day, presenting her natural appearance.

Explaining that she’s always filmed herself this way, she stated, “I’ve been using the front camera on TikTok for six years, and this is what I naturally look like.”

The influencer said she thought the video that sparked the recent discussion about filters was “really awful,” but she clarified that it didn’t accurately represent her appearance.

“I really didn’t like how I looked in that video,” Mikayala explained. “I’m not sure what went wrong, but it went viral and people started assuming that’s just how I always look.”

But she assured fans that her most authentic self could be seen on her own account. 

As anyone who’s met me knows, this is what I actually look like. I can’t change the fact that you saw an awful video of me online and wrongly assumed I was being dishonest about my appearance.

Ugh, it’s just… it gets to me how people still talk about whether she uses filters! She’s said over and over she’s not even going to discuss it, and yet people just keep bringing it up! It’s so frustrating, like they aren’t even listening to her. Honestly, it’s annoying that they won’t drop it!

Mikayla, clearly upset, demanded to know if the criticism stemmed from her appearance and a desire to see her fail. She continued, questioning why someone would want to see her ‘downfall’ when she’s being completely genuine. She emphasized that she presents herself authentically, without using any filters, editing, or alterations of any kind.

As she put it, “There’s no filters and I’m tired. I’m f–king tired of hearing it.”

For more influencer scandals, keep reading…

Colleen Ballinger, the internet personality behind the Miranda Sings character, faced serious accusations in 2023. Allegations surfaced claiming she engaged in inappropriate relationships and grooming behavior with some of her younger fans.

The controversy began when YouTuber KodeeRants shared screenshots of a group text conversation, allegedly between Ballinger and fans, where inappropriate questions were asked. While NBC News couldn’t confirm the screenshots’ authenticity, the claims quickly spread.

Adam McIntyre, a former fan who ran a Miranda Sings account as a child, then released videos alleging that Ballinger emotionally groomed her fans. Ballinger didn’t directly address these claims, initially responding with a 10-minute ukulele song on YouTube where she described the accusations as harmful gossip and harassment.

By fall 2023, Ballinger had resumed posting on Instagram, but has not yet returned to creating content on YouTube.

Rachel Hollis faced criticism after a post about her house cleaner sparked controversy. In the post, which has since been deleted, Hollis recalled being called out for her privilege after mentioning she pays someone to clean her toilets. She responded by saying she works hard for her money and doesn’t need to be relatable, comparing herself to iconic figures like Harriet Tubman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marie Curie, and Oprah Winfrey.

Many people disagreed with her comparison, pointing out the vast difference between her situation and the struggles of those who work hard but still face financial hardship. Hollis later apologized on Instagram, acknowledging that she caused pain by mentioning prominent women whose experiences she couldn’t understand and for dismissing the struggles of those without financial security, often due to systemic racism. She stated she needs to listen more and be less vocal.

In March 2020, the founder of the Something Navy brand announced on Instagram that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and would quarantine with her husband, Brandon Charnas, and their daughters, Ruby and Esme, in their Manhattan apartment. However, just eight days later, she and her entire household, including their nanny, left the city for the Hamptons. This sparked criticism online, as followers pointed out her posts about enjoying outdoor walks weren’t consistent with staying isolated and maintaining social distancing.

When her husband cracked that only “hot” people were getting the virus, emotions boiled over.  

She followed up with a detailed apology, explaining that their nanny also had the virus, they took precautions like having their building’s doormen clear the lobby and avoiding stops for gas or groceries, and their Hamptons house was on a quiet street. However, the controversy continued to affect her.

Nordstrom, which had previously carried her clothing line, decided not to renew their contract after it ended in 2019. Charnas, who had a third daughter named Navy in 2021, then relaunched her brand by selling directly to customers, saying she wanted more creative control. She’s now back to sharing her favorite items from Shopbop and partnering with A Pea in the Pod.

In an interview on The Glossy Podcast, she admitted, “I should have been more aware and sensitive to what was happening in the world, and people were right to expect that from me.”

In 2020, fashion influencer Emily Gellis Lande publicly criticized registered dietitian Tanya Zuckerbrot. Lande shared unverified stories from dieters claiming they experienced serious health problems – including rashes, cramps, potential metal poisoning, and even miscarriage – after spending over $20,000 on Zuckerbrot’s high-fiber F-Factor Diet. The story gained attention from The New York Times.

Zuckerbrot, represented by lawyer Lanny Davis (who previously worked for Bill Clinton), denied the allegations and claimed her diet didn’t cause eating disorders. She stated that out of over 176,000 purchases of her products, she’d only received 50 health complaints. She also provided lab results to address concerns about heavy metals and defended her program on Today.

Zuckerbrot dismissed Lande, telling the Times she believes Lande thinks she’s helping people, but is simply a fashion blogger.

Zuckerbrot has since filed two lawsuits against Lande, alleging a deliberate campaign to damage her brand. Lande has denied these claims, and the lawsuits are still ongoing.

In 2020, following a global surge in awareness of racial injustice, stylist Jessica Mulroney faced criticism of her own. Lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter publicly shared that Mulroney took offense to her call for followers to speak out against racism and support the Black community. Exeter alleged that Mulroney responded with “very problematic” behavior, including speaking negatively about her to business contacts and sending a threatening message. While Mulroney initially apologized publicly and announced plans to use her platform to amplify Black voices, she also sent Exeter a private message that appeared to threaten legal action. As a result, the television network CTV dropped Mulroney’s reality show, I Do, Redo. Mulroney’s husband, Ben Mulroney, stepped down from his hosting role on eTalk, expressing hope that his replacement would be a person of color. Despite the controversy, Jessica Mulroney maintained her friendship with Meghan Markle, stating they were like family.

Jake Paul, known for his viral videos like “I DUCT TAPED My Brothers $400,000 Dollar TRUCK!” and his departure from the Disney Channel show Bizaardvark, gained significant online popularity by 2020.

In August of that year, the FBI searched his home in Calabasas, California. This followed an incident at a Scottsdale, Arizona mall in May, where Paul livestreamed a Black Lives Matter protest that turned chaotic. Police stated he stayed inside the mall after being told to leave. Paul claimed on Twitter that he and his group didn’t participate in any looting or vandalism.

The reason for the FBI raid became a major topic of discussion, mirroring the size of his YouTube audience. Video footage showed police carrying firearms from his property. Paul responded in a now-deleted video, stating the search was solely related to the Arizona incident and denied rumors connecting him to any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “absurd.”

Although no charges were filed, Paul’s lawyer stated they would fully cooperate with the investigation.

In 2025, Ned—one of the original members of the YouTube comedy group The Try Guys, which included Keith Habersberger, Zach Kornfeld, and Eugene Lee Yang—publicly addressed the cheating scandal that led to his departure three years prior.

I often presented myself as the ‘wife guy’ – someone who frequently talked about how great my relationship was,” he told People magazine. “Fans seemed to really like that part of my persona, so I played it up intentionally. It was a genuine aspect of my life, too.

He explained that the controversy was so significant because of the irony involved, and it felt like a betrayal to viewers. He also said it must have been incredibly upsetting and disappointing for those watching.

Over a year after reconciling with fellow beauty influencer Tati Westbrook, James Charles found himself embroiled in new controversies. In August 2020, he subtly criticized celebrities launching makeup lines, which many interpreted as a jab at Alicia Keys and her skincare collection. He later apologized, admitting he shouldn’t dictate who can create makeup.

Just two weeks later, Charles faced another backlash after criticizing Lauren Conrad’s new beauty line on Instagram. He showed his 22 million followers empty packaging he received, implying Conrad shouldn’t have a makeup brand.

Conrad responded with humor, explaining on Instagram that an assistant mistakenly included the empty samples with the products sent to influencers. She jokingly announced the assistant would be fired.

Charles later apologized, saying his videos were intended as a joke and that he and Conrad had resolved the issue privately. However, it seemed clear he was aware of the mistake he’d made.

I remember being absolutely shocked when Myka Stauffer started a video saying it was the hardest thing she and James had ever had to share. It wasn’t about parenting tips or daily life – it was the news that they had rehomed their four-year-old son, Huxley, whom they adopted from China in 2017, because of his autism. The response was immediate and incredibly harsh. So many of us who followed them questioned their motives – were they truly unprepared, or had they used Huxley for content and financial gain, only to give him up when things got difficult? They lost a huge number of followers and sponsorships – brands like Fabletics, Suave, and Danimals all cut ties. It even got serious enough that the Ohio authorities investigated to make sure Huxley was safe. Thankfully, the investigation was closed without charges, but Myka’s online presence completely disappeared. She hasn’t posted anything on YouTube or Instagram since she released a long apology, admitting she was naive when she began the adoption process and stating they weren’t under investigation. It’s just been… heartbreaking to watch.

Okay, so you WILL NOT believe this. I’ve been following Kaitlyn Teaches for ages, and her husband did this amazing prank on her! He packed her lunch, which was already adorable, but then included a bag of dog food – seriously, a BAG! – with a note calling her his ‘dawg’! And get this, some leftover Chipotle too! People online are being SO dramatic about it, saying it’s awful, but I think it’s the cutest thing ever! She just posted a video explaining everything because everyone’s losing their minds, and honestly, I’m just here for the content and to defend her husband’s genius.

She addressed the weekend’s events in a TikTok video from September 2025, saying people were overly concerned about him calling her a dog.

She explained, speaking slowly, “He didn’t call me ‘dog’ – D-O-G. He called me ‘dawg’ – D-A-W-G. It’s slang for ‘homie,’ what we call friends. It was just a joke, J-O-K-E, a joke.”

It was a turbulent time for TikTok star Cole Hall. After announcing a cross-country road trip in May 2020, he faced criticism for seemingly ignoring stay-at-home orders. Hall defended the trip, noting that many states had already lifted quarantine restrictions and they were avoiding contact with others. However, the situation escalated five days later in Lee County, Texas, when both Hall and his travel companion, Chase Hossler, were arrested on drug-related charges. Both were released on bail the next day, but their representatives declined to comment on the arrests. In a later essay for People magazine, Hall revealed he was beginning a journey toward sobriety, acknowledging past mistakes and promising to learn and grow from them.

Not all pranks are harmless fun. Unlike a playful stunt like George Clooney and Brad Pitt covering Julia Roberts’ door in shaving cream, what the Stokes Twins did was dangerous. In October 2019, these YouTube personalities dressed in black, pretended to be bank robbers, and filmed themselves calling an Uber as a getaway car. The Uber driver, understandably not amused, refused to drive and someone called the police.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, police arrived and pulled the driver out of the car at gunpoint. Once they realized he wasn’t involved, they let him go and warned the Stokes Twins about the risks of their actions.

Just four hours later, the twins allegedly repeated the prank on the University of California, Irvine campus, leading to their arrest. They faced up to four years in prison for false imprisonment and falsely reporting an emergency. Orange County D.A. Todd Spitzer stated that their actions “could have resulted in someone getting seriously injured or even killed.”

Although their lawyer claimed they were innocent, the twins eventually pled guilty to lesser charges – misdemeanor false imprisonment and reporting false emergencies. They were sentenced to 160 hours of community service and one year of probation.

As someone who’s watched the online world evolve, I remember when Shane Dawson seemed unstoppable. He built a massive following – over 34 million people! – with his long-form videos and was practically crowned the ‘King of YouTube’. But things came crashing down in June 2020 after a really explosive tweet where he aired his grievances with the beauty community. He essentially called out a lot of people, including James Charles, accusing them of being attention-seeking and manipulative. It didn’t land well, and rightfully so.

Within days, he posted a lengthy apology video, ‘Taking Accountability’, where he admitted to a lot of past mistakes. He acknowledged he’d done things he was ashamed of, including using blackface, making racist comments, joking about incredibly sensitive topics, and even posting a video that inappropriately sexualized a young Willow Smith. He really seemed to be trying to own up to his actions and understand the harm he’d caused, stating he felt he should have faced consequences.

And he did. YouTube suspended his ability to make money from his channels. Interestingly, when he returned to creating content in 2021, he said he was grateful for being ‘canceled’. He felt it genuinely changed his life for the better, and honestly, it’s a powerful reminder that accountability can lead to growth, even in the often-chaotic world of online content creation.

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2026-04-01 23:22