If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram or X lately, you’ve likely come across the surge of viral retro AI portraits—people transforming their selfies into glamorous Bollywood saree looks, vintage Hollywood stars, or even futuristic cyberpunk characters. Intrigued, I decided to try it myself using Google Gemini’s image generator. The results were faster and more impressive than I expected. In just a few minutes, I generated 6 to 10 unique images per day—each one completely different in style and mood. One moment I was a 1970s Bollywood heroine in a crimson silk saree with heavy gold jewelry, the next I was a Victorian-era noblewoman in a lace-trimmed gown, holding a vintage fan. Then, in another prompt, I was a neon-lit cyberpunk rebel with glowing cybernetic eyes and a leather trench coat under a rainy city skyline. The key to getting great results? Specificity. The more detailed my prompts, the more authentic and cinematic the output. I found that including elements like outfit color, fabric type, hairstyle, background setting, and even lighting style made a huge difference. Some images looked like they were pulled straight from a film poster, others resembled hand-painted portraits, and a few even captured the soft grain and warm tones of a vintage Polaroid. With a simple two-step process—upload your photo and paste a well-crafted prompt—you can unlock a world of creative possibilities. The best part? These prompts are fully customizable. Whether you want to appear as a 1950s pin-up, a futuristic anime avatar, a 1920s flapper, or a medieval knight in full armor, there’s a prompt for that. I’ve tested dozens of variations and compiled over 25 ready-to-use prompts that you can copy and tweak instantly. All it takes is a photo, a little imagination, and a few seconds to create stunning, shareable retro-style portraits that stand out on any social feed. The results aren’t just fun—they’re surprisingly realistic and full of character. And the best part? You don’t need any design skills. Just plug in the prompt, hit generate, and let AI do the magic.