The heroin chic aesthetic appears to be making a comeback in the entertainment world, and many online argue this is not necessarily a good thing, given the beauty standards it imposes on the industry.
The term began resurfacing on social media after Lily Collins attended New York Fashion Week looking noticeably slim, with her abdomen appearing overly defined at times. She’s not the only actress raising concerns—Jenna Ortega has also shown physical changes, particularly in her face, that have sparked conversations online.
What Is Heroin Chic?
Heroin chic was a fashion trend that emerged in the early 1990s, first referenced with Kate Moss in a photoshoot for The Face magazine. The aesthetic quickly spread among actresses, models, and eventually the general public. Its defining traits were extremely thin frames, pale skin, and sometimes dark under-eye circles.
The danger of this trend was that, as more people sought to emulate it, it effectively promoted eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia among young women. Throughout the decade, physical deterioration was normalized and even considered provocative.
Now, in 2025, the return of such a style poses the risk of excluding body diversity while undermining ongoing conversations about inclusivity and self-care. This resurgence threatens to invisibilize real, healthy bodies by pressuring women—especially young women—into believing they must follow a narrow standard to be considered “beautiful.”
Heroin chic largely faded in the early 2000s. However, runways are once again showcasing size-zero models, reigniting fears that harmful behaviors could resurface. For now, the internet continues to push back with awareness campaigns, hoping to prevent society from repeating the toxic patterns of the past.
