'Today' show stars go barefaced for 'Love Your Selfie' series

NEW YORK, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- All of the Today stars, including Matt Lauer, Kathy Lee and Al Roker, went on air this morning without makeup for No Makeup Monday. The stars decided to appear barefaced as part of the show's week-long series, "Love Your Selfie."

"Love Your Selfie" is a special segment that explores self-image and seeks to encourage self-acceptance. Viewers are encouraged to submit selfies of themselves without makeup with the hashtag #LoveYourSelfie in a celebration of confidence.

"In a world where everyone wants to look their best all the time, it's not easy to peel back the layers and take a good look at yourself au natural," reads the Today website. Several of the show's stars admitted that appearing on national high-definition television without makeup was an uncomfortable experience.

"TV is a little less forgiving than being outside in your normal life," Savannah Guthrie said.

The Today segment reflects a growing societal concern that body image is negatively effected by heavily edited media. Photoshopped ads and perfectly made-up stars have been accused of creating an impossible standard of perfection that is unattainable for the average person. Photos of makeover sessions with everyday people have been released to illustrate the extreme amount of editing that goes into the images we are bombarded with every day in print and other media.

Pictures of the Today show anchors with and without makeup can be seen here, along with a video from the "Love Your Selfie" segment.

[TODAY]