What exactly is behind the “legging legs” scandal that's sweeping TikTok – and why is this fad so “harmful” and “toxic” according to some social media users?
Many young women on the video-sharing platform have defined the term “legging legs” to mean a thigh gap visible in spandex pants – but this has proven controversial.
Searching for “legging legs” on TikTok brings up a combination of videos – young women flaunting their thigh gaps in spandex under the search term “perfect legging legs” and women speaking out against the “toxic” trend .
Women on social media are horrified and believe the trend is bringing back the “thigh gap” for Generation Z and encouraging unhealthy eating habits.
Gen Z women have been showing off their thigh gaps in leggings on TikTok, including content creator Mia Griggs, 20, in New Jersey
Gen Z women have been showing off their thigh gaps in leggings on TikTok, including 20-year-old New Jersey content creator Mia Griggs.
Some followers liked the content, with one commenting: “Such a beautiful girl.”
However, others were less impressed, saying that anyone can wear leggings and should feel comfortable in them, no matter what their body looks like.
'Yes / Yes. You have her. “Congratulations,” one person snorted.
“I always thought that leggings were the ones you wear to make yourself comfortable, especially when nothing else fits,” read another comment.
One user chimed back with: “All legs are leggings legs,” while another agreed: “How to get leggings: 1. Have legs, 2. Wear leggings.”
Influencer Mik Zazon, whose content focuses on comfortable fashion and eating disorder recovery, made a video criticizing the body shaming trend, which she shared with her 1.7 million followers.
The health and fitness coach from Columbus, Ohio clarified, “People with thigh gaps only have them because of their genetics, because of their bone structure, because of their hip structure.”
Women on social media are horrified and believe the trend is bringing back the “thigh gap” for Generation Z and encouraging people to wear leggings no matter what
“Now there are young girls out there who think they were born wrong,” the wellness influencer continued.
“These trends have to stop,” said Mik.
“Social media is so harmful and toxic that we have young girls in particular who believe that because they don't have a thigh gap, they can't wear a comfortable item of clothing that can be paired with so many different things.”
“Our only purpose in life is not to fit into clothes and fit into the current standard of beauty, because that changes every few weeks, if not weekly,” Mik told her followers.
She ended the video by saying, “We’re not doing that.”
Influencer Mik Zazon, whose content focuses on comfortable fashion and eating disorder recovery, made a video criticizing the body shaming trend, which she shared with her 1.7 million followers
And Mik's followers completely agreed with her message.
“I wear leggings on my legs, that's why I have leggings.” “Thanks,” one commenter joked.
“I'm on the side of social media where I only heard about leggings because people were upset about it,” wrote another.
Some took the trend a little too far, with one woman writing: “Easy to say when you have perfect leggings.”
“I can't even remember if my thighs were ever separated, they depend on each other,” one commenter joked.
Some users are sharing photos and asking if they have “legging legs,” while others fear history repeating itself and are begging for this trend to stop
On X, formerly known as Twitter, the reaction was similar.
Some users have shared photos and asked if they have “legging legs,” while others fear history is repeating itself and are begging for this trend to stop.
One person tweeted: “People acting like Legging Legs is new when it's just renaming Thigh Gap?”
“Influencers, advertising and the media will reuse these ideas until the end of time to make women feel insecure so they can capitalize on our insecurities and shame.”
Another wrote: “All these TikTok trends about leggings… it feels like we're going back to the 90s magazines when they gave everyone eating disorders and I hate that.”
Others said the trend's popularity was overblown.
“I've seen more videos on TikTok of people saying, 'I can't believe leggings are trending, that's disgusting,' than I've actually seen videos about leggings.”