An eerie optical illusion has taken the internet by storm, leaving viewers debating over whether they can spot a creepy old woman hidden within what initially appears to be an innocent scene of two young girls in the woods.

The viral dress that some people saw as black and blue while others saw gold and white comes to mind.

For what it’s worth, I have only ever seen white and gold and it still annoys me to this day that I can’t see black and blue.

now that it’s been 8 years can we all agree that this dress is black and blue pic.twitter.com/CJdWZgmypW
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) October 22, 2023

The Image: Innocent or Unsettling?

At first glance, the picture seems to show two young girls—one blonde, the other brunette—enjoying a quiet moment together in nature.

Nearsighted fam: take your glasses off and pull your phone away from you eyes. Look at the blonde girl. pic.twitter.com/RTcmBxEsp5
— The Redheaded libertarian (@TRHLofficial) August 27, 2023

However, for those with less-than-perfect vision—or those who squint—a haunting face appears, replacing the blonde girl’s features with the visage of a pale, old woman.

The Illusion Explained
The blonde girl’s side profile forms the illusion:
- Her forehead becomes part of the creepy figure’s head.
- Shadows in her hair and beneath her chin form dark, hollow eyes.
- Her hairline and shirt folds outline a nose and mouth, completing the unnerving face.

Here’s a cheat for those who can’t see it. pic.twitter.com/JM30jmeMI9
— Will (@Willacrz) August 28, 2023

Reactions on Social Media

Viewers have been divided:

Creeped Out
“Well that was nightmare fuel. Thanks for the loss of sleep I’ll be having.”
Unconvinced
“I think my contacts are too good to see anything but two little girls. Not sure what you guys are seeing.”
Terrified
“FREAKED ME OUT.”

For those struggling to see the haunting face, edited versions of the image have been shared online, highlighting the illusion.

A Viral Phenomenon

This isn’t the only optical illusion to leave people spooked. Another recent viral moment occurred aboard an airplane when a passenger captured what appeared to be a hooded figure staring at them from across the aisle.

I ALMOST LANDED THIS PLANE MYSELF pic.twitter.com/mZXhTLiHXC
— Blu ✯ (@bluemupp) November 21, 2024

While initially unnerving, sharp-eyed users revealed the truth:

The “face” was simply a person wearing their hoodie backward with headphones sticking out.
What looked like an eye was the black earbud, and the “face” was the back of their head covered by the hoodie.

Why Optical Illusions Fascinate Us

Optical illusions like these play tricks on our brains by exploiting shadows, shapes, and context, creating images that shift depending on how they’re perceived. Whether you see a creepy old woman or just two girls, one thing’s for sure—these illusions are sure to spark conversation and stir the imagination.

Featured Image Credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty