Why is TikTok Obsessed with Barbie Ferreira's Thinner Body?

Barbie Ferreira is arguably a trailblazer in the entertainment industry as the 25 year-old actor and model made a name for herself at the tender age of 19 as a model for Aerie's un-retouched campaign.

Since starring as the sex-positive Kat in HBO Max's Euphoria, Ferreira's star power has deservedly sky rocketed, but a disturbing trend has surfaced on TikTok, comparing the actor's younger body to her current form. As one of the early pioneers of the body positivity and neutrality movement, it's extremely upsetting to see so-called fans praise her thinner shape. A proliferation of videos on the social media platform displaying images of Ferreira during her 2014 Tumblr era while the actor was at a thinner weight. Comments boasting over 500 likes ask, "What happened?" Other viewers overtly label her smaller frame as "better" and more desirable, writing, "she looked better skinny."

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While the latest TikTok social media trend of showing older pictures of the Euphoria cast may be a benign and nostalgic foray into the past, the overwhelming response to a thinner version of Ferreira demonstrates our society's deeply ingrained and problematic association of beauty and thinness.

For women, being regarded as beautiful is akin to being smart, rich or successful. A woman's appearance grants her greater value and acceptance in a patriarchal and beauty-obsessed culture.

It should go without saying that Barbie Ferreira was beautiful then and is beautiful now, no matters the size or shape of her body.

Only months away from 2023, speaking about women's appearance and prioritizing thin bodies over fatter forms should no longer be the norm.

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