Social media trends see resurgence of ‘Skinny Chic’ beauty standards

Social media landscapes are seeing a resurgence of ‘Skinny Chic’ beauty standards, shifting away from the body positivity movement that gained mainstream traction around 2010. On platforms like TikTok, sub-communities such as ‘Skinny Tok’ have emerged, promoting emaciated aesthetics that critics suggest encourage dangerous behaviors associated with eating disorders.

This trend mirrors the early 2000s ‘heroin chic’ era, characterized by extreme thinness and pale skin. Experts point to the viral popularity of the drug Ozempic as a significant driver of this shift. Originally prescribed for type 2 diabetes, the drug’s ability to suppress hunger has been widely used by influencers and celebrities to achieve rapid weight loss, contributing to a new cultural narrative centered on extreme thinness.