Is the 'bikini bridge' the new thigh gap? Disturbing new selfie fad circulating on social media

  • Term is circulating on social media
  • When bikini bottoms are suspended between hip bones, causing a space between bikini and  lower abdomen
  • Blogs launched for girls to post their own shots
  • Body image experts say it's 'horrendous thinspiration'

By Bianca London

PUBLISHED: 09:19 EST, 7 January 2014 | UPDATED: 03:50 EST, 8 January 2014

When Cara Delevingne stepped out on the catwalk, she became one of the inspirations for the 'thigh gap' trend, which demands legs so thin that they do not touch above the knees.

Admirers of this look even created Twitter and Facebook accounts dedicated to the 'thigh gap' with more than 700,000 followers sharing pictures.

But with a new year, comes a new social media trend. Make way for the 'bikini bridge', which Urban Dictionary describes as 'when bikini bottoms are suspended between the two hip bones, causing a space between the bikini and the lower abdomen.'

The new thigh gap? The 'bikini bridge' is when bikini bottoms are suspended between the two hip bones, causing a space between the bikini and the lower abdomen, and it's popping up all over the web

The new thigh gap? The 'bikini bridge' is when bikini bottoms are suspended between the two hip bones, causing a space between the bikini and the lower abdomen, and it's popping up all over the web

'Bikini bridge' enthusiasts have been uploading their own images to 4chan, an image sharing site, and a Twitter feed and Tumblr dedicated to the cause have been established.

The hashtag #bikinibridge is circulating on Twitter.

Users of 4chan are keen to promote the fad, one writing: 'This should cause large enough of a stir to snowball into a fairly big subject.'

'After a fair amount of circulation has been accomplished, we circulate the images throughout parts of the Internet known to be biased on the subject of weight (i.e. thin privilege, fat shaming, etc).

 

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There are even facetious comments posted promoting the 'benefits' of possessing a 'bikini bridge' such as 'fitting an ipod into your bikini bridge' and 'getting a smoother tan line from your bikini bridge'.

Image sharing: A Tumblr has even been established which allows users to upload their own bikini bridge snaps

Image sharing: A Tumblr has even been established which allows users to upload their own bikini bridge snaps

Perks? Buzzfeed has written an article entitled 'the 12 perks of having a bikini bridge' with accompanying images

Perks? Buzzfeed has written an article entitled 'the 12 perks of having a bikini bridge' with accompanying images

Buzzfeed has also posted an article entitled '12 perks of having a bikini bridge' with reasons such as 'it is the ultimate beach accessory', 'Harry Styles will be 857 per cent more attracted to you' and 'you and your girls will become the talk of the town'.

As a result, in just 24 hours, #bikinibridge and #bikinibridge2014 was tweeted more than 2,400 times, with Harry Styles's endorsement - which has seen been deleted - receiving 115,359 favourites.

However, Lucy Attley, Dove Spokesperson who works on their self-esteem campaign, says: 'The bikini bridge is yet another example of piling pressure on women to feel increasingly anxious about their bodies.

'Our ambition at Dove is for beauty to be a source of confidence, not anxiety. We want to inspire women everywhere to feel good about the bodies they have, and not experience the constant pressure that drives beauty anxieties, portraying an ideal of beauty that is not real or reflective of women in the UK. 

Bikini snap fan: Millie Manderson often uploads bikini photos to her Instagram page
Bikini snap fan: Millie Manderson often uploads bikini photos to her Instagram page

Bikini snap fan: Millie Manderson often uploads bikini photos to her Instagram page 

Like? There is also a Facebook 'fan' page in honour of the bikini bridge with 499 'fans'

Like? There is also a Facebook 'fan' page in honour of the bikini bridge with 499 'fans'

'The New Year should be a time when women everywhere are inspiring each other to redefine and embrace a more positive relationship with beauty.'

Body image and wellbeing expert Katie Lowe added: 'The bikini bridge is just another example of horrendous thinspiration that encourages young women to develop poor body image and self-esteem.

'Images like this used to be constrained to pro-anorexia websites - which are themselves dangerous, damaging communities for young men and women to encourage disordered eating behaviours.

'The fact that, alongside the thigh gap, the bikini bridge has now been covered by mainstream media sites as a positive attribute that women should aspire to have, just shows that ideas around women's bodies are getting worse, not better.

'Bikini bridge or otherwise, we need to learn that bodies are beautiful in all shapes and sizes - and encouraging young women to strive towards something like this is an unhealthy result of a body shaming culture which is causing over 4,500 girls aged 15-19 to develop a new eating disorder every single year.'

Role models: Teenage girls hope to emulate the slender frames of Cara Delevingne and Louis Tomlinsons's girlfriend Eleanor Calder
Role models: Teenage girls hope to emulate the slender frames of Cara Delevingne and Louis Tomlinsons's girlfriend Eleanor Calder

It all started with the thigh gap: Teenage girls hoping to emulate the slender frames of celebrities such as Cara Delevingne (L) and Louis Tomlinsons's girlfriend Eleanor Calder







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Next time, can we have an article on the "bikini mound", rather than the "bikini bridge"? Thanks! Although I did like some of these pictures.

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Thats hot!!!!

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I've always had this (protruding hip bones), so does my mother, and my grandmother did too. I am not an unhealthy weight nor do I diet, count calories or anything of the sort (and nor do the women in my family). I always thought it was just one of those things some women have and some don't due to genetics, height, body type ext¿ I think it's ridiculous anyone would deliberately try to have protruding hip bones because they starve themselves, but you can't just demonize all women who have them as a "bad influence".

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I have this and I am not underweight! What a pointless article

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Can't believe the Dove people got suckered in too, or maybe I can.

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this is completely normal! I am a size 12/14 (a little overweight for my liking) and my hips/tummy does this!! what a silly article. However, I wouldn't really show it off as its something to be proud of, its just normal!!!

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I hope its not the end of the Thigh Gap, I love them and they come in all shapes and sizes, dont have to be skinny to have a super sexy thigh gap, this bridge thing does nowt for me as they are skinny

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Wow I am in fashion I have a bikini bridge - I have one big problem though at 67 I don't think I will be wearing a bikini any time soon.

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I am from India. I want to make friends from outside india. I want to see all the countries in the world. pmalik00@gmail.com is my email id. Thanks

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Just how does one become a "wellbeing expert"? What are the criteria? Or does one become a wellbeing expert by simply self-proclaiming it?

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You just get the business card printed.

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