For decades, celebrities have determined the beauty standards of laypeople across the globe. Whether it’s fashion trends or hairstyles, the public eye has always emphasized what famous people are into. The consequences of celebrity worship, however, resound throughout society when celebrity behavior is damaging. When eating disorders and weight loss medications become popular, what does it mean for society as a whole?
Skinniness in Hollywood is not a new phenomenon. The 90s brought about the “heroin chic” look, a style that emphasizes messy makeup and hair, pale skin, and extreme thinness. It evolved as a response to the neat, proper aesthetics of the 1980’s. As problematic as it is to aspire to look like an addict, celebrities in the 90’s and early aughts promoted the look heavily, spreading the influence past grunge, alternative circles and into the fashion industry to models like Kate Moss. Whether it was a rebellion from the “uptight” worldview of the decades prior or an expression of deeper mental health crises, heroin chic made a lasting impact on modern trends.
The extreme 90’s body trend appears to be resurfacing in modern celebrity style. Recently, the cast of the Wicked movies has appeared in photos and interviews as incredibly thin— bordering on dangerous. Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Michelle Yeoh have all drastically lost weight during their time on the wicked set. Visible collarbones and ribs are seen in photographs of the celebrity cast as well as dark under eyes and extremely small wrists. Fans are left to wonder whether drugs were involved or disordered eating is to blame, given the extreme pressure put on the actors to do justice to the broadway show. Ariana Grande’s response to criticism regarding her skinniness was an assertion that she is the healthiest she’s ever been; the validity of her claim is questionable.
Public opinions of extremely thin celebrities vary. Largely, society is moving more towards body positivity and acceptance for plus-sized bodies and thinner bodies alike; eating disorder culture has been fading away. But in recent months, thinness and paleness have been trending more and more, and the effect of this on the general public are notable. Some meet Hollywood’s thinness with humor while some advocate against the trend, making note of the possible dangerous impact on young, impressionable fans.