In a recent social media trend reminiscent of 2013’s infamous ‘thigh gap’ obsession, a wave of young TikTok users, dubbed the ‘Sephora generation,’ have been promoting a harmful beauty standard known as ‘legging legs.’
This trend essentially enforces the toxic idea that only thin legs ‘look good’ in leggings and further perpetuates unrealistic and harmful beauty standards for women and girls worldwide. This mirrors the unhealthy obsession of achieving a thigh gap mentioned in a 2013 report by USA Today, in which countless adolescent girls pursued unhealthy dieting and exercise practices to attain a gap between their thighs – a so-called symbol of beauty and slenderness.
Such toxic standards not only promote body shaming but also create mental health issues among teens. However, there is a silver lining amidst these unhealthy trends. The backlash against this harmful trend reflects a new wave of body positivity, defying these unrealistic beauty ideals in favor of greater acceptance of diverse body types.
Indeed, the rise to prominence and subsequent backlash of such trends goes far beyond showcasing a beauty standard. It highlights a societal issue deeply rooted in the promotion of a single ‘ideal’ body type, perpetuated by mass media and now, social media platforms.
The original coverage of this topic can be explored in detail on Bloomberg Law.