We cannot lie about our love for big butts; we were on the hunt for “Ms. New Booty;” and of course found ourselves too “bootylicious” for our significant others. It seems obvious that the image of the female behind has drastically changed throughout the decades. It’s found outlets in 2014 to be talked about again. The one who probably started all of the booty fascination—Jennifer Lopez has teamed up with Iggy Azalea for her song “Booty.” Before the live performance of her hit song at the American Music Awards, let us look back and reflect on how the ‘behind’ has evolved over the years with help from Vogue magazine.
Today is the information age, where everything is put on the internet to be reviewed. Because of this, women are finding themselves more confident when they see pictures of curvier shapes posted online. Furthermore, “In music videos, in Instagram photos, and on today’s most popular celebrities, the measure of sex appeal is inextricably linked to the prominence of a woman’s behind.” Social media networks such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter have become a platform for celebrities to create movements dedicated to the female body.
Kim Kardashian has been notorious at taking pictures of herself—especially her rear end. The reality TV star has no shame when it comes to her body, as we have seen various angles of her booty. Although many may not be a fan of the Kardashian brand, we have to admit that she got peoples’ attention and helped make selfies popular. Jen Selter also rose to social media fame with her self-proclaimed “belfies,” basically butt selfies.
Although a round bottom is socially desired today, “For years it was exactly the opposite; a large butt was not something one aspired to, rather something one tried to tame in countless exercise classes.” We have evolved from the Audrey Hepburn and Twiggy skinny figures and embraced our inner Marilyn Monroe.
It was in the late 90’s when the booty sensation began with Jennifer Lopez. As Vogue.com states, “Her derrière quite literally stood out against the other sex symbols of the moment, signaling a shift away from the waif era of Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Moss and the outrageously large-breasted Pam Anderson.” When Jennifer Lopez’s career first began, the media as well as fans became obsessed with her booty. Audiences everywhere had a new respect for women with curves because they became associated with power.
As Destiny’s Child sang “my body is too bootylicious for your baby,” meaning that we do not care if our butts fit in the palm in your hand. Because it does not, we have more confidence in the way our clothes fit and do not need you to “handle this”—we can handle our own.
