Tiktok is having a self-love history lesson
Social media can make us feel bad about ourselves, endlessly scrolling through images of perfected bodies and faces. Though these are often altered – whether digitally or surgically – the effect on our self-esteem can be very real.
Every now and then, however, social media comes through in a great way. Creating communities around skin positivity with movements like #getyourskinout and #freethepimple, for example. Or this latest TikTok trend.
Users on the social platform have been sharing historical images and works of art that highlight the features they are insecure about, from strong noses to rosy cheeks, and show that those same features have long been celebrated and thought of as beautiful. Not only that, but they are strong connections to our history and the legacy of our ancestors.
@whitehair sometimes i envy others but then i remember who made me so beautiful #greenscreen #fyp #native #indigenous #nativeamerican #mmiw #navajo
♬ original sound - jake25.17
TikToker @whitehair, for example, shared images of her Native America forebearers who share her same broad nose with the caption “sometimes I envy others but then I remember who made me so beautiful.” Another user @brownchicana69 posted images of Latina women through the ages, writing “me trying to compare myself to white girls but then I remember.” @zigwad called back to the struggles of her Jewish ancestors in WWII writing “in times of conventional beauty, remember who created you. the ones that couldn’t be here” alongside a video of her highlighting her strong nose.
As well as ancestral images, users have been looking back through the history of art to tie themselves to a long line of beautiful women. Rosy cheeks, curly hair and fuller hips and tummies have all been celebrated. “You’ve been insecure about your rosy cheeks your whole life but one day you remember they’re a symbol of beauty,” wrote @leeencuisine while @tiktoktoyoulater posted saying “aquiline/hooked noses are beautiful & apart of so many nations & cultures around the world and it would be an injustice if I hated mine like I use 2.”
See some of the videos below.
@leeencuisine you’ve been insecure about your rosy cheeks your whole life but one day you remember they’re a symbol of beauty #fyp
♬ original sound - jake25.17
@justtpeaachy Record your insecurities but in a beautiful way❤️👩🏽🦱 shout out to whoever started this trend💋 #fyp #greenscreen #afrolatina
♬ original sound - jake25.17
@riley.illustration idk who started the trend but “record the things you hate about yourself but in a beautiful way” #foryou #fyp
♬ original sound - jake25.17
@brownchicana69 #greenscreen Hispanic/Latina girls stay winning 🤩. Sorry #CoolRanchDance #jobtips #fyp #fyp #fyp
♬ original sound - jake25.17
@zigwad idea from whitehair in times of conventional beauty, remember who created you. the ones that couldn’t be here.
♬ original sound - jake25.17
@madewithreal.ginger past lives🕊🕊🕊
♬ original sound - jake25.17
@molosal It took me 19 years to fall in love with my curls, I wish it would’ve been sooner. #greenscreen #JustAddGlitter #allstarmoment #curlyhair
♬ original sound - jake25.17
@tiktoktoyoulater aquiline/hooked noses are beautiful & apart of so many nations & cultures around the world and it would be an injustice if i hated mine like i use 2💖
♬ original sound - jake25.17
@pregnantworm #greenscreen this took me a while to make but ya #wholesomeplottwist #allthedifference
♬ original sound - jake25.17
@dakotawinyan #greenscreen #fyp #fy #foryoupage #indigenous #nativeamerican original credit: sadeyezriri ⚡️🖤
♬ original sound - jake25.17