How the Trump Administration’s Conservative Policies and Messaging Are Reshaping Body Image Standards for American Women
September 10, 2025
Body image and beauty standards for women have long shifted like fashion trends—one year in, the next out, often cycling every decade. In recent years, however, Americans have witnessed a notable change: a move away from body positivity, and the resurfacing of ultra-thin ideals, sometimes described as “heroin chic.” Social media posts by celebrities, influencers and everyday users alike increasingly mention dissolving their BBLs and turning to drugs such as Ozempic to lose weight.
This trend in beauty standards has emerged alongside a broader political shift. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has experienced a rise in conservative extremism, with groups like the Proud Boys and ICE impersonators using intimidation and violence to achieve political aims. Between 2013 and 2021, domestic terrorism cases in the U.S. rose by 357 percent—a surge criminologist Gary LaFree links to Trump’s 2016 election and the ensuing period of polarization and ideological conflict, according to research with the Global Terrorism Database.
