Itโs time to stop stressing about whether or not you have a โthigh gapโ because thereโs a new, far more positive body image trend in town.
Women on Instagram have been sharing photos of their #MermaidThighs - defined as thighs that touch together - in order to spread a culture of self love.
The hashtag stands as a direct response to the #ThighGap trend, which has been condemned for putting pressure on women to have a gap between their thighs when they stand with their legs together.
In contrast, #MermaidThighs is all about loving your body as it is.
Rivkie Baum, editor of plus size magazine SLiNK is a big fan of the latest movement.
โAnything that promotes body positivity on social media, a place that has become all too synonymous with trolling, is always good,โ she tells The Huffington Post UK.
โWomen are constantly being put under enormous pressure to look a certain way and a thigh gap has been another body trend over the past year that has contributed to this.โ
However, Baum points out that anyone sharing #MermaidThighs photos should be careful they arenโt body-shaming women with natural thigh gaps in the process.
โHopefully we can get to a point where we just care less about each otherโs bodies and focus on more important things,โ she says.
Letโs hope #MermaidThighs is a step forward towards a society that celebrates bodies in all shapes and sizes.
Check out more of the images posted with the hashtag below.
