My recollections of summer 2016, in all their vividness, often have me worried that I am dismissing the larger, more uncomfortable details that dotted that year. What more could I have asked for at eleven, after all? The weather was absolutely perfect. The beach was never too full. Starbucks produced new drinks like the CEO himself had swallowed confetti. Also, Ariana Grande was doing her makeup in her sink.
That’s right. Emerging from an infatuation with organic food, mat pilates, and licking only the icing off the donut was the template of the “baddie,” which soon became the talk of the season. Its pioneers? Trending pop-culture landmarks, such as the Kendall Jenner mirror selfie, and diet groups on Tumblr that were borderline cults. It was happening: skinny was in style once again. Despite the fact that body positivity never quite gave way, all the newest trends were moving towards “shedding an additional pound.”
My suspicion — as an individual who has fallen victim to such crazes in the past — is that there is a larger pattern to be observed here. If anything overshadowed the glittery fever dream that was 2016 summer, it was President Donald Trump’s victory in the 45th presidential election on November 8th. Succeeding Barack Obama’s enthusiastic two-term reign on the American political arena, Trump’s inauguration arrived like a clap of lightning, jolting several dormant “traditional” norms awake.
The fact that the ruling party plays a significant role in shaping pop culture in its incumbency is not shocking news. What is cause for concern, however, is the depth at which this is the case. To say that celebrities are bound to bandwagon off of whatever the current “obsession” is in order to see success would not be an understatement. In many cases, this means several public figures slip into the associated cultural and social norms of the party or politician in power. Very few are able to escape the shackles of such overbearing pressure (see Beyoncé), because going against the current requires an attractive, recognizable and self-sustaining individual brand.
Picture Nicki Minaj’s recent alignment with President Trump that has taken all major social media platforms by a storm. Considering her past propulsion of much more liberal policies and a fanbase equally left-leaning, one would be entirely justified in assuming that her recent behavior stems primarily from a desire to secure the benefits of political favor. Although her case is one of the more extreme, microdoses of political alignment can be found in nearly every element of pop culture when the tide turns. Who’s to say that beauty trends, consumption habits, and even eating habits are immune to such influence?
At the precipice of Donald Trump’s second term, intense dietary practices such as keto, intermittent fasting, and low-calorie programs (VLCDs) have sprung back in full force. While there are statistical metrics to track the consumption patterns of Americans over time, this article is less invested in the technicalities. A more unique angle is to track how media and entertainment is shaped by, and further encourages, such norms. At the helm of such examples lies the recent Wicked press tour, featuring Ariana Grande, who has notoriously been suspected of propagating ED culture, and Cynthia Erivo, for whom thousands have expressed worry on her rapid weight loss. What does eating less have to do with Donald Trump? The answer lies in understanding conservatism as it exists in America.
One of the social features of liberalization is that it allows for a larger range of self-expression, which can manifest through body modifications, tattoos, hair, or even maintaining a desired weight. We look back at the COVID-19 pandemic as a fever dream for American culture, but one truth remains that self-expression was arguably never more accessible than it was at the height of lockdown. With the swinging of the pendulum into conservative politics, several of these norms are now regressing in favor of traditionalism. The “clean girl makeup” emphasizes applying less and embracing “natural beauty.” Body-shaming is now concealed under the false pretense of being health-wary, and piercings or colorful hair have been reduced down to the image of a barista who makes great coffee.
We’re speeding on a two-way street with no way out. To see success, celebrities set social trends that are loyal to the current political agenda, and susceptible fanbases participate in such trends to amplify them beyond control. As pop culture and societal norms continue to feed off of each other in a hungry, manufactured loop, you might notice that the weather has already started picking up a warm hue. Exactly 10 years later, I suspect that the beach in summer 2026 will have an eerily similar feel to that of 2016 — save for maybe a bolder eyeshadow look.
Featured Image Source: Paul Smith