How AI’s 'celebrities born in another country' trend is taking over your feed
Saloni Jha | Feb 24, 2026, 16:51 IST
Viral AI edits are reimagining global celebrities in different cultures and countries.
Image credit : Indiatimes | Actor Shah Rukh Khan has been digitally reimagined with entirely different regional features.
New week, trend, and now there is a new kind of culture shock happening online, and it involves celebrities you thought you knew.
One minute you are scrolling peacefully, the next you are staring at a hyper-real version of Sydney Sweeney draped in a saree, or Justin Bieber styled like a Central Asian nomad. Even Shah Rukh Khan has been digitally reimagined with entirely different regional features.
Welcome to the “If They Were Born In…” AI trend.
This viral format uses generative AI to transport global stars into alternate cultural realities. It is not just about wardrobe swaps. The technology subtly reshapes facial structures, adjusts skin tones, modifies hair textures, and places them in culturally specific settings.
The Italian version might come with sharp tailoring and a dramatically localised name. The Indian version often includes ornate sherwanis or intricate sarees set against vivid backdrops. East Asian reinterpretations tweak styling and facial proportions to match regional beauty aesthetics.One minute you are scrolling peacefully, the next you are staring at a hyper-real version of Sydney Sweeney draped in a saree, or Justin Bieber styled like a Central Asian nomad. Even Shah Rukh Khan has been digitally reimagined with entirely different regional features.
Welcome to the “If They Were Born In…” AI trend.
Image credit : Instagram/alexxaffa_ai | Creators typically begin with AI art generators to build a culturally specific base portrait.
The internet’s favourite what-if game
It feels cinematic. It feels uncanny. And it looks real enough to make you pause.
Image credit : Instagram/alexxaffa_ai | It feels cinematic. It feels uncanny. And it looks real enough to make you pause.
How are these so convincing?
The result is a short reel that looks like a parallel universe casting decision.
Part of the appeal lies in global curiosity. Audiences enjoy imagining how fame would translate across borders. It creates a strange sense of closeness. People see elements of their own culture reflected in globally recognised faces.Why everyone is obsessed
At the same time, the trend has sparked conversations about representation, identity, and how easily AI can reshape human features. It is playful, but it also raises serious questions.
Image credit : Instagram/bereelwise | The Italian version might come with sharp tailoring and a dramatically localised name.
One thing is clear: these edits are entirely fictional. They are digital experiments, not reality. But in a world where technology keeps blurring lines, even imagination now comes with high resolution.
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