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 by the Olsen twins in the 2000s, who would purse their lips to look pouty and suck 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, or 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 is a product of new beauty standards and a nod to how young women are pressured to look a certain way—and they know it. Now, Gen Z ladies are not merely acquiescing to the male gaze, whether on the runway or social media, but making a statement that shows they are fully aware of exactly what they are 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 also gives 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.”