Have you tried the ‘side profile’ trend? Here’s why TikTok is so divided over it

Move over dark academia, there’s a new TikTok obsession in town. That’s right, we’re all trying out the side profile trend – but not everyone is keen on the results. 

The trend involves a TikTok filter, which automatically draws an outline of your side profile. People have also been taking pictures of their side profiles and free-drawing the outline over them, before filming themselves trying to ‘match’ the outline. 

One TikTok user, Amy Pohl, shared her take on the trend with the caption, “this filter had made me insecure!” People n the comments were quick to agree, with one writing, “literally, its like ⚠️insecurity unlocked! ⚠️???? [sic].”

However, another TikTok user, Alexandra Roman, tested the trend, writing, “I actually like my side profile.” Everyone in the comments agreed, with one person saying, “you have such a perfect nose,” while another added, “No bc your side profile is literally perfect [sic].” 

Thankfully, another TikTok user had a positive experience with the trend, noting, “this trend scared me bc I thought my side profile sucked [sic],” before adding, “wtf I’m so pretty [sic].” We’re here for this kind of positivity! 

While the trend is certainly enjoying a surge in popularity, it can ~sort of~ be traced back to November 2020 when TikTok-ers filmed their side profiles to the tune of Avril Lavigne’s hit tune, ‘Girlfriend’. Basically, content creators would flip their hair over their heads before dramatically swooshing up and revealing their side profiles. Yep, it was very 2020. 

However, the original iteration of the trend came under fire for appearing to promote Eurocentric ideals of beauty. A YouTube compilation of people trying out the trend received over 200+ comments and not all of them were positive.

One person wrote, “All these people are pretty because of basic measurements and boosted Eurocentric beauty standards. Everyone’s nose is upturned, positive under eye support, lower and upper jaws extend past nasion with matching lips.”

One writer, Julia Sable, wrote for Her Campus that the trend should be “cancelled” altogether, explaining, “The majority of the people who post “side profile” videos are people with smaller noses.  Although they have smaller noses, some of these content creators surprisingly admit that they are unhappy with their side profiles.”

She added, “This teaches teenagers that there’s a beauty standard that everyone must achieve, and if individuals don’t have a perfectly sculpted and bump-free nose, then they have reasons to complain.” 

Still, even during the Avril Lavigne phase of the side profile trend, there were many content creators who still found it empowering. One TikTok user tested the trend with the caption, “wait.. i kinda luv it <3,” while many people in the comments agreed, with one adding, “nose bumps gotta be the cutest thing ever.”

The latest iteration of the trend – which, incidentally is accompanied by Melanie Martinez rather than Avril – appears to be a more body-positive version. And we really hope it stays that way. 

For more from Glamour UK’s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.