A female traveler at Shanghai airport faced difficulty passing through immigration after the facial recognition system failed to match her face with her passport photo due to her heavily applied makeup. A video circulating on social media shows the woman removing her makeup under the instruction of an airport staff member.
In the footage, the woman is seen using wipes to remove what observers described as "bridal-level makeup," including foundation, contouring, and eyeliner, while an off-camera staff member instructs her to continue until her appearance matches the passport photo. The employee reportedly said, "Wipe everything off until you look like your passport photo. Why would you do your makeup like that? You are asking for trouble."
The incident quickly gained attention online, sparking mixed reactions. Some viewers criticized the woman’s makeup as excessive, likening it to cosplay, while others condemned the treatment she received from the staff, calling it insensitive and bullying. Comments highlighted her visible embarrassment and questioned the necessity of the staff member’s tone and recording of the interaction.
It remains unclear whether the traveler was eventually able to proceed through immigration, but the incident underscores challenges facial recognition technology can face when people heavily alter their appearance.
