Sahar Tabar: The Real Story Behind Iran’s Viral Instagram Star

Sahar Tabar, born Fatemeh Khishvand, became infamous online as the so-called “Zombie Angelina Jolie.” Her eerie selfies — featuring hollow cheeks, pale skin, and exaggerated eyes — shocked millions and turned her into a viral sensation.

What began as a creative experiment quickly spiraled into something bigger. Through Instagram, she crafted a haunting persona that blurred the line between art, performance, and digital illusion, but the attention soon carried heavy consequences.

During the late 2010s, her stylized images fueled global headlines claiming she had undergone dozens of surgeries to look like Angelina Jolie. In reality, her look came mostly from makeup, editing, and filters, with only a few minor cosmetic tweaks. For Sahar, this was artistic self-expression — a way to stand out in the crowded digital space.

Her fame, however, drew scrutiny in Iran. In 2019, authorities accused her of “spreading immorality” and “corrupting youth.” Though international voices defended her as an artist, she was sentenced to prison and served over a year before release.

Afterward, she clarified that the extreme “surgery” claims were false, stressing that her persona was meant to entertain, not reflect her true self. Her story shifted from a cautionary tale about cosmetic obsession to one about misinformation and media responsibility.

Sahar’s case highlights how viral fame can quickly turn dangerous. What is satire in one culture can be criminal in another, showing the tension between freedom of expression and restrictive laws.

Today, she remains quieter online but stands as both a creative figure and a warning. Her story reminds us that behind every viral image lies a real person — and the internet’s power to distort, elevate, and endanger.