‘Thigh Reading’ Trend Takes Twitter By Storm With Body Positive Photos Of Naked Thighs
Warning: Slightly NSFW images ahead
The internet can never have too many movements supporting positive body image. And you can add one more to the list thanks to this week’s “thigh reading” Twitter trend.
According to the Huffington Post, the Twitter user @princess_labia started the thigh reading sensation by sending out the following tweet, declaring that reading thighs is superior to reading palms.
palm readings <<<< thigh readings pic.twitter.com/eaXBcVO7HX
— EMO SLUT (@princess_labia) July 20, 2015
Since her post, countless women have joined in the thigh reading craze by tweeting photos of their own naked thighs with the hashtag #thighreading to show their appreciation for their bodies, no matter what size, shape, or color. Many women bravely uploaded thigh reading photos despite having stretch marks or surgery scars, using the opportunity to combat the unrealistic expectations of women’s bodies.
#thighreading ft:surgery scars pic.twitter.com/CPGc0kDNUx
— Katelandia (@K8lynNotStirred) July 25, 2015
@princess_labia #thighreading ft. some freckles, peeling, and surgery scars ? pic.twitter.com/cervUxHpat — lakota ??? (@r_edrum) July 25, 2015
#thighreading love ya body and its growth!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/U0DbLV3lqw — anna (@kneehighlol) July 25, 2015
Got stretch marks? Then you’ll seriously <3 the new #ThighReading social media trend: http://t.co/PLWEha4qExpic.twitter.com/43ZLA9vjtB
— Stellar Magazine (@stellarmagazine) July 25, 2015
The thigh reading movement is helping people accept themselves for who they are, despite their physical flaws. Some people even tweeted photos of their thighs to show that scars from self-harm had faded, metaphorically declaring triumph over their low self-esteem.
@princess_labia self harm scars almost completely faded, my #thighreading sees a bright future for myself ??pic.twitter.com/UXk5ASjXTP
— Vault-Girl Courtney (@ScotiaSiren) July 23, 2015
this weeks attempt at body positivity ? chubby pink legs ft. scars, stretch marks & freckles #thighreading ? pic.twitter.com/oq6yFVgxVw
— sadie (@ssadiemaud) July 22, 2015
But the viral thigh reading trend also helps to celebrate the diversity of thighs from all kinds of different races and cultures. No two thighs are the same.
MTVspoke to the original creator of thigh reading, @princess_labia, to find out what inspired the movement.
“I wasn’t thinking I was creating a hashtag, ’cause I post pictures of my body and my body ‘flaws.’ I was just sitting on the couch with my legs crisscrossed and I was just looking at my stretch marks and feeling them, because they’re kind of deep some places and yeah, I was just looking at it and I was like, ‘oh, it’s like a palm reading.'”
According to Women’s Health Magazine, the thigh reading photos are also significant because they are not altered or retouched by Photoshop or editing programs. In a world where “perfect” airbrushed versions of women’s bodies saturate the consumer in every form of media, it’s refreshing to see a massive feed of proudly natural body parts.
Thanks to movements like thigh reading, a more realistic representation of the female body finally seems to be permeating popular culture. For example, Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” openly celebrates curvy women, which may have contributed to the song’s incredible success. Read more here.
What do you think of the thigh reading trend? Will you be doing some thigh reading of your own? Tweet a photo using the hashtag #thighreading.
[Images courtesy of Twitter]
