By now you may have heard about the so-called Gen Z pout, a selfie face pose that comes as a response to the now cringe millennial duck face made popular in the 2000s by the Olsen twins, who pursed their lips and sucked in their cheeks when posing.
Here’s what to know about the newest Gen Z slang.
What exactly is the Gen Z pout?
This week, a bunch of articles came out about this new trend and the nuances surrounding it that the untrained eye might miss. The pose has been seen on the faces of celebs such as Love Island’s Iris Kendall and actresses Rachel Sennott, Lily-Rose Depp, and Ariana Greenblatt.
“If millennials pursed and pointed our smackers in a way that resembled the bill of a duck, Gen Z-ers are adopting a pout position that looks more like the mouth of a platypus,” explains PureWow. “It’s all about emphasizing the upper lip.”
In an age dominated by plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, the Gen Z pout appears to be a product of new beauty standards and a nod to how young women are pressured to look a certain way. Gen Z ladies are not merely acquiescing to the male gaze, whether on the runway or via social media, but making a statement that shows they’re fully aware of what they’re doing—and owning it.
Not to be confused with the Gen Z stare, that blank-faced, slightly annoyed expression Gen Z gives when asked a question, the Platypus pout adds some attitude.
According to The Washington Post, that accentuated lip, which often comes from injectables, is more brat than bratty, and defiantly states, “Fine. Take your picture.”