After an unedited photo of her leaked online and created a stir, Khloe Kardashian shared a frank and candid response to the public furore, opening up about her insecurities after years in the spotlight. 

The reality star defended her use of filters and editing photos, explaining that years of scrutiny has made her protective of her self image and wary of online trolls. 

The response came after an unedited photo of the star was leaked online, with Khloe's PR team allegedly scrambling to have it deleted as it showed her in what they felt was an unflattering light.

The photo, taken by Khloe's grandmother MJ, showed the star standing by a pool in a leopard print string bikini, smiling at the camera and looking relaxed.

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Free of the edited lighting and filters fans have come to expect, Khloe's appearance is far from the Kardashian standard of blurred features and pronounced hourglass figures, but still beautiful, as many fans were quick to point out online. 

In a statement to Page Six, Tracy Romulus, Kim Kardashian's BFF and chief marketing officer for KKW brands, said: "The color edited photo was taken of Khloé during a private family gathering and posted to social media without permission by mistake by an assistant.

"Khloé looks beautiful but it is within the right of the copyright owner to not want an image not intended to be published taken down."

However, once it became clear that the star's team were trying to erase the photo from the Internet, fans began to protest why Khloe would want to hide a photo that shows her in what many feel was a more realistic and authentic light. 

Khloe has now shared her own statement about the photo, and her reasons for tweaking her image the way that she does. Sharing a series of photos and videos on Instagram, the reality star captioned the post, "PS Yes I did a live to show you all this isn't photoshopped".

"Hey guys, this is me and my body unretouched and unfiltered. The photo that was posted this week was beautiful", she began. 

"But as someone who has struggled with body image her whole life, when someone takes a photo of you that isn't flattering in bad lighting or doesn't capture your body the way it is after working to hard to get it to this point – and then shares it to the world – you should have every right to ask for it not to be shared – no matter who you are."

She continued: "In truth, the pressure, constant ridicule and judgment my entire life to be perfect and to meet other's standards of how I should look has been too much to bear. 'Khloé is the fat sister.' 'Khloé is the ugly sister.' 'Her dad must not be her real dad because she looks so different.' 'The only way she could have lost that weight must have been from surgery.'"

She added she's spent years in the public eye with every feature "micro-analyzed and made fun of". 

"You never quite get used to being judged and pulled apart and told how unattractive one is, but I will say if you hear anything enough then you will start to believe it. This is how I have been conditioned to feel, that I am not beautiful enough just being me."

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She got candid about using filters to tweak her appearance, saying: "I love a good filter, good lighting and an edit here and there. The same way I throw on some make-up, get my nails done or wear a pair of heels to present myself to the world exactly the way I want to be seen and it's exactly what I will continue to do unapologetically".

"My body, my image and how I choose to look and what I want to share is my choice. It's not for anyone to decide or judge what is acceptable anymore."

Her post was flooded with supportive messages from her friends and family, as well as many fans. However, some followers highlighted the role the Kardashians have played in creating the beauty standard Khloe seems to feel pressured to keep up with. 

One follower wrote: "But again you guys are the ones who are setting those standards for yourself, all you have to do is love yourself in whatever shape and form you are.You don't have to please anyone. Love and happiness comes from within Khloe.

"You don't need to share some videos, what do you want to gain from that. Learn and teach your daughter that she does not need validation from anyone."

Another wrote: "Can we stop associating our worth with our physical appearance or other's perceptions of our physical appearance? It’s 2021, babes. Do better."