This one might ruffle a few feathers… but hey, that's why we’re here.
There was a time when your natural shape wasn’t just celebrated, it was iconic. The standard of beauty in our culture was led by women who wore their natural bodies, with pride and authenticity. Think about the early 2000s: J.Lo used to shut down the red carpets with natural curves that made backless dresses a whole movement. I remember being a kid, seeing everyone post her and always highlighting her lower back dip. Iconic!
Then there was Beyoncé, who had us all saying “uh oh” while doing that signature booty pop, in the Crazy in Love video. Beyoncé also turned 'bootylicious' into more than just a catchy lyric, it became a real word in the dictionary. She shared that she wrote Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious” in response to being body-shamed in the media. Instead of changing herself for approval, she used the song to empower herself & others. In that moment, she wasn’t just speaking for herself, she was speaking to everyone who’s ever felt different. That word gave women of all shapes and sizes confidence to celebrate their curves and embrace what their mama gave them.
And of course, hip-hop had a lot of influence. Rappers like Nelly had the girls in Apple Bottom jeans with the apple logos hugging the curves just right. Those jeans weren’t just fashion, they were a statement. He had everyone singing the song and feeling like they had an “apple booty,” even if it really looked like a pear.
Then something shifted. Around the 2010s, the fantasy that used to live in music videos and on magazine covers, became something everyone could buy. The rise of social media created a new kind of pressure. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about being naturally thick or wearing the right jeans, it was about achieving perfection.
Symmetrical hips, flat stomach, high shelf booty. The kind of body that looks airbrushed even in real life.
Booty shots and BBLs grew in popularity. Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian were huge influences, for what this enhanced body ideal looked like. Whether people admit it or not, those two women changed the game. The BBL era wasn’t just about beauty anymore, it became about success. A way into clubs, into clout, into opportunities. For some, it was a ticket out of struggle, even if it meant going into debt, losing self respect or risking their health just to get on trend.
Let’s talk about music videos. Remember when video girls just had to “look good?” Just a mean walk, a little two-step, and a pretty face was enough. They served face over body and good vibes over performance. Think back to early Ashanti and Ciara videos, they were hot, just off their natural presence.
Now, if you’re not “throwing a$$,” clapping cheeks, or showing off a surgically enhanced body, it’s as if you lack value. The requirements to be seen, reposted or chosen; often comes down to one thing: “do you have a BBL?” Music videos today often blur the line between admiration and objectification.
Some men started acting like a BBL body was required. Suddenly, natural bodies weren’t enough. If you didn’t have a snatched waist and a shelf booty, you were labeled “mid,” “basic,” or not “baddd” enough.
That pressure doesn’t just affect how women see themselves, it affects how men interact with women altogether. Some will scroll past everyday beauties, while double-tapping every surgically enhanced body on their feed. Then wonder why natural women, may start to feel insecure or the need to change.
Women shouldn't have to modify themselves just to be seen as worthy, beautiful, or desirable. Preference is one thing, but expectation? That’s where it becomes toxic.
On the flip side, some women get a BBL and suddenly act like they’ve joined a higher class of womanhood. The idea that because they “invested” in their body, they now sit at the top of the hierarchy.
BBL is not a personality trait. It’s definitely not a pass to look down on other women. Yes, you made a choice and you’re entitled to feel good about it. However, that confidence should never come at the cost of someone else’s self-esteem.
Confidence isn’t real if it only exists when someone else feels small.
The goal should never be to compete with other women. It should be; to be in-love with yourself.
Some people get surgery to get ahead in the industry. Some do it because that’s what gets likes. Some do it because that’s what men chase. Sometimes, it’s not about confidence, it’s about survival in a world that tells you you're not enough unless you look like a cartoon version of yourself.
And while there are women who feel genuinely empowered by changing their bodies, there are others who end up feeling more insecure afterward. Because surgery can change your shape, but self-hate doesn’t magically disappear in post-op. You’ll still wake up with the same mind, the same fears, the same mirror... just with a new shape to get used to.
BBLs are one of the most dangerous cosmetic procedures out there. K. Michelle was brave enough to share her truth. She suffered for years trying to undo the damage from illegal butt injections. And we tragically lost Jacky Oh, a beautiful mother and personality, after complications from a procedure.
When done by unqualified doctors, or in unregulated clinics, the results can be devastating. Not just physically, but emotionally too. Botched surgeries, infections, lifelong pain. And for what? A trend? Perfection?
Just like every trend, BBL culture is starting to fizzle. The natural body "movement" is quietly returning. Some celebrities are even reversing their surgeries. Because beauty standards are constantly changing. What’s "hot" today can be out by tomorrow.
The body you chased yesterday might not be “in” next year. So before you go under the knife, ask yourself, am I doing this because I love myself or because I’m trying to be loved?
Because one thing about trends? They don’t care about your healing. They move on. You’ll be stuck with the scars while the culture’s already chasing something new.
If you want a BBL, that’s your choice and it’s your body. Do what makes you feel good. Just make sure you’re safe. Go to qualified doctors and do your research. Don’t let a discount cost you your life.
If you’re young? Wait. Your body isn’t done blooming yet. You don’t even know what your grown woman shape looks like. Let it evolve.
If you're doing it because you feel broken on the inside.. please, do the inner work first! No surgery can fix the way you feel when you close your eyes at night. The real glow-up comes when you’re good with yourself before, during, and after the changes.
If you ever change something about yourself, make sure it’s out of love and not lack.