California Traveler Tells Others After TSA Flagged Her for “Looking Too Different” from Her Glamorous ID Photo
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — A California woman has gone viral for warning travelers not to overdo their ID photo glam after she was repeatedly flagged by TSA agents who said her driver’s license didn’t match her appearance in person.
TikTok creator Davis Roe (@divaaadavisss) shared the story in a now-viral video that’s been viewed more than 178,000 times, describing how her “perfect” ID photo has turned into a recurring travel nightmare.
“I get absolutely humiliated every time I go through TSA,” Roe said from her airport gate, wearing a yellow hoodie and sporting a makeup-free look. “The first few times it was funny — now it’s just humbling.”
Why Her ID Photo Keeps Causing TSA Issues
Roe said she took her ID photo during what she described as her “super-blonde, bronzed, full-glam era.” The result, she joked, was a “glowing” and “levitating” look — one that apparently confused TSA scanners when compared to her current appearance.
“The agent scanned it like five times, and it wouldn’t recognize me,” she recalled. “They had to call someone else over to check.”
When the second TSA worker arrived, Roe said he delivered a brutally honest comment that she’ll never forget:
“I think it’s you — you’re just way less blonde and way more pale.”
TSA Photo Scans Can Flag Travelers with Appearance Changes
Roe said the repeated experiences have taught her a lesson: “As much as you want your baddie driver’s license photo, just remember when you’re at the airport, hungover, and looking rough — it’s gonna tell you you’re not you.”
Other travelers chimed in under her post, sharing similar stories of being questioned by TSA and airport facial recognition systems when their appearance changed significantly since their ID was issued.
“I came to the airport one time so puffy because it was so early,” one commenter wrote. “The TSA scanner didn’t think it was my face.”
Another added that a bouncer once told them they looked like “a serial killer” compared to their license photo.
@divaaadavisss Boiiii
TSA Confirms Travelers Can Refuse Photo Verification
Several users pointed out that, according to the TSA’s official website, travelers can refuse to have a photo taken during identity verification. If declined, an agent will manually scan the ID and confirm identity visually.
One commenter noted that Kansas City International Airport displays signs reminding travelers of this right — though others said they hadn’t seen such notices at airports like LaGuardia.
“Just say, ‘no thank you, I don’t want to get my photo taken,’” one traveler advised.
The video has since sparked a broader discussion online about facial recognition reliability, beauty filters, and real-life consequences of digital appearance changes.
I’ve lived in Naperville long enough to see how quickly our community changes — from new developments downtown to sudden shifts in our Midwest weather. Reporting on Naperville news and daily forecasts gives me the chance to keep neighbors informed about what really matters. My goal is simple: deliver clear, timely updates so you always know what’s happening in our city and what to expect from the skies above.