In a bizarre social media saga that captured international attention, a popular Japanese biker known online as @azusagakuyuki was unmasked as a 50-year-old man named Zonggu. The charismatic young woman persona that had attracted thousands of followers striking photos in leather gear posed beside a Yamaha and selfies from intimate settings turned out to be the carefully crafted result of FaceApp’s powerful editing tools.
Zonggu confessed on a Japanese TV show that he used the app’s gender swap and youth filters to transform his appearance into that of a “younger beautiful woman.” He reasoned that fans on social media preferred eye-catching young female bikers rather than an “old uncle” posting about motorcycles. Initially posting mundane content with minimal engagement, the new persona exploded in popularity, garnering thousands of likes and a devoted fanbase.
Subtle clues like hairy arms and odd reflections had sparked suspicions, and a Japanese variety show tracked down the man behind the account. Zonggu embraced the reveal with humor, admitting his skills with photo editing had fooled many and even won him praise for his “next-level” catfishing.