TikTok’s latest viral filter is one that either makes you ‘chubby’ or ‘skinny’ and to be honest, I feel sad even writing this. But we need to talk about it.
The trend sees users applying an AI generated filter over a photo of themselves that alters their size and their reactions are going viral. The general vibe is that people are “grossed out” by the ‘chubby’ version of themselves. They’re reposting their chubby selves with laughing emojis and captions like “this filter gone and done me dirty”.
Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.
For those using the ‘skinny’ filter, the undertone is motivation. Basically, seeing themselves thinner is helping them to get motivated to go to the gym or achieve their #bodygoals. Honestly, I’d left that hashtag and my Bikini Body Guide (IYKYK) back in 2010.
But as it turns out, it never left. We’ve just found ourselves back in a place where the skinny ideal has been catapulted back in the forefront of mainstream messaging. This viral TikTok filter follows a clear shift back towards thinness in Hollywood, with the rise of Ozempic and celebrities who were once celebrated for their outspoken size diversity, now chasing the appeal of skinniness.
More recently, Vogue’s cover of the musical Hairspray’s “You Can’t Stop the Beat”, featuring Gigi Hadid in place of the original plus-sized lead, Nikki Blonsky, has sparked infuriated conversation online. “To take a story with various plus-sized characters and remove size diversity is deeply disappointing,” wrote Demi Lynch, founder of Faternise.
Thankfully, we’re talking about it. No sooner had my jaw dropped at the ‘chubby’ filter atop my TikTok feed had I seen critiques of the filter from activists, media and models, calling out the inherent fatphobia and concerning narrative, especially for young people.
Although this trend feels like a real-time blow, exposing where we’re really at when it comes to size diversity and acceptance in mainstream culture, we should look to these voices to educate us and give us hope for a changing narrative. Their honesty constantly helps me to find the confidence to speak about my own experiences.
Below, four Australian body positivity activists share their thoughts on TikTok’s trending filters.
Bedi Othow, model
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“As a curve model, I’m extremely passionate about celebrating every version of myself. Most importantly, what I represent is the version of me who radiates confidence in who she is as a whole person — not just how she looks.
TikTok’s ‘chubby filter’ insinuates that the chubby version of you is not good enough and there is a better version: a skinner version.
The best version of me is linked to the internal journey, building confidence and self love at every shape and size. And that, in this world of ever-changing fads and trends, has been the journey that has mattered the most to me.”
Shauna, content creator
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“The chubby filter is a striking example of how digital culture often subtly and sometimes blatantly reinforces body shame, yet again turning the reality of fatness into a mockery.
It plays into deeply ingrained societal biases, perpetuating the harmful belief that larger bodies are inherently undesirable or comedic. And it fuels a broader culture of misinformation, where fatness is assumed to equal poor health, and thinness is seen as inherently virtuous.
For people who’ve navigated the complex terrain of body image, disordered eating, or weight-related trauma, this filter has reopened wounds that many of us have worked tirelessly to heal. In a world where self-acceptance is already an uphill battle, things like this do not exist in a vacuum: they shape perception, fuel stigma, and make it so much harder for people to see their bodies as worthy of dignity and care, regardless of size.”
Annika Nielson, model and content creator
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“No one tells you to prepare for the feeling of knowing your existence is other people’s worst fear, but that’s exactly what this new filter is doing. I don’t know which is worse, the chubby or skinny filter. One is being used as motivation and the other for shame, but both have the same message: fat is bad.
There’s a difference between the filter that makes you look like a cat (fun and cute!) as opposed to one that fuels fatphobia. It’s the perfect example of how society is always reinforcing body shame and making sure there’s a divide between good and bad, attractive and comedic, desirable and unwanted.
Trends like this not only shape perception, but fuel the stigmas people have against fat people. The skinny filter is being used as motivation for people to lose weight, furthering the belief that all fat people want to lose weight and are praised when they do. This could not be more harmful for every single person who uses this filter and or even simply sees it.”
Demi Lynch, founder of Faternise and Kaleidsocope News
“I wasn’t surprised to see the ‘chubby filter’ trending on TikTok. Anti-fatness and toxic diet culture is still prevalent in today’s society. It may not be as noticeable as the early 2000s but society’s distaste towards fatness has never left the zeitgeist.
Since uploading the video about chubby filters, my page has been flooded with trolls. I’ve been inundated with comments and DMs from people telling me how fat and disgusting I am, while also being told by others that fatphobia doesn’t exist. You’ve got to laugh at the irony there.
But sadly as a fat content creator, I’ve grown used to trolls. Just go to any fat content creator’s page and look at their comment section — trolls love to come after fat people. They love to criticise us and tear us down for simply existing in our fat bodies.
To the people out there using the ‘chubby filter,’ do you not realise there are millions of people out there in the world that look like that filter every day? Your apparent ‘worst nightmare’ is our everyday reality. We as a society need to rid the stigma surrounding fatness and create a world that’s actually catered to fat bodies.”
For more on body positivity, try this.
This article How body positivity activists feel about TikTok’s ‘chubby filter’ trend appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-03-21 05:25:00
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