Sahar Tabar, whose real name is Fatemeh Khishvand, is an Iranian social media influencer who rose to international fame due to her highly unusual and heavily stylized appearance on Instagram. Born in Tehran, Sahar gained massive attention online after posting a series of photos in which she appeared with an extremely exaggerated and haunting look—pale skin, hollowed cheeks, oversized lips, and wide, glassy eyes. Her appearance led many to compare her to a “zombie version” of Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, a nickname that quickly stuck and spread across global media platforms.
Her transformation became a viral sensation, with millions of people around the world sharing and reacting to her photos. Some believed she had undergone dozens of plastic surgeries to achieve her look, while others speculated it was the result of extreme digital editing. In reality, Sahar later clarified that much of her appearance was created through a combination of makeup, Photoshop, and a few minor cosmetic procedures, not the extensive surgeries many had assumed. She explained that her posts were never meant to be taken literally and that they were part of a larger artistic project—meant to entertain and provoke curiosity among her followers.
Despite the creative intent behind her content, Sahar’s fame soon drew the attention of Iranian authorities. In 2019, she was arrested on charges including blasphemy, inciting violence, promoting public corruption, and disrespecting the Islamic dress code. Iranian state media accused her of encouraging youth to engage in morally questionable behavior, and her online persona was cited as an example of what they considered the harmful influence of social media on the country’s values and culture.
Following her arrest, Sahar’s Instagram account—where she had amassed over 400,000 followers—was shut down, and she faced intense scrutiny from both Iranian officials and the public. Reports initially claimed that she had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, a punishment that sparked widespread international outrage and concern from human rights organizations. Many activists and public figures spoke out in her defense, arguing that her arrest was a violation of freedom of expression and that artistic or personal expression on social media should not be criminalized.
After serving approximately 14 months behind bars, Sahar was released from prison, reportedly due to growing international pressure and public criticism of her sentencing. Her release was seen as a rare concession by Iranian authorities in response to global attention and advocacy.
In interviews following her release, Sahar expressed regret for some of her past actions but also emphasized that her viral online persona had been misunderstood. She reiterated that she had never intended to look like a zombie or to imitate Angelina Jolie directly. Instead, she described her online identity as a form of performance art, designed to capture people’s attention and entertain her audience through surreal and exaggerated visual storytelling. She said she had no idea that her posts would eventually lead to such serious legal consequences.
The case of Sahar Tabar has since become a powerful example of how quickly social media fame can rise—and how unpredictable, and at times dangerous, the consequences of that fame can be. It has also sparked ongoing conversations about the limits of online expression, especially in countries where digital activity is closely monitored and subject to strict cultural and political controls.
Today, Sahar’s story continues to circulate in global media as both a cautionary tale and a reflection of the complexities surrounding internet fame, censorship, and individual freedom in the digital age. Her experience serves as a reminder that behind the viral images and internet personas are real people, navigating real consequences in a world where the line between personal creativity and public controversy can be razor thin.
