Should you’ve swiped throughout TikTok, likelihood is you’ll have seen movies concerning the ABG aesthetic. From make-up and elegance tutorials to skits, the “Asian Child Lady,” or ABG pattern has been on the rise in recent times.
The ABG look, in response to the web, is a trend and way of life pattern embodied by Asian American girls who typically sport lengthy, dyed hair, eyelash extensions, manicured nails, tattoos, and tanned pores and skin.
Whereas its beginnings are contested, some accounts assert that the time period ABG first originated among the many Asian diaspora within the Nineteen Nineties, influenced by the rise of African-American hip-hop tradition. Since then, the fashion has undergone a number of evolutions; immediately, it’s related to the aforementioned tan, intense make-up, in addition to avenue and clubbing-inspired outfits and hairstyles.
Nevertheless, the ABG aesthetic is not geographically restricted to Asians dwelling abroad — in reality, it’s now a rising sub-trend in China.
China’s model of ABG
Since surfacing in 2020, the “ABG woman” (#ABG女孩) hashtag has collected over 9.8 million posts and relying on native way of life platform Xiaohongshu. In line with Taobao, the turnover of ABG-related clothes and merchandise elevated 333 % in 2021.
Chinese language girls make the ABG aesthetic their very own. Photograph: Xiaohongshu
“I’ve all the time needed to strive this sort of look, however by no means discovered a very good time period for it. Now I do know it’s known as ABG,” Chinese language influencer Chelle posted to her 287,000 followers on Bilibili earlier than remodeling herself right into a tattooed, boba (bubble tea)-drinking ABG. She completes the look by sporting grey contact lenses, smoky eye make-up, and an animal print scarf tube high with denims.
Throughout Chinese language social media, quite a lot of magnificence and elegance tutorials may be discovered on the right way to get the ABG look. Characterised by cropped graphic tees, dishevelled pants, pleated skirts, trucker hats, knee-high socks, and white sneakers — together with tattoos, piercings, fierce brows, and glowy highlighter — the ABG aesthetic has grow to be consultant of how the Westernized Asian diaspora is perceived in Asia.
Bilibili person Chelle applies faux tattoos and heavy make-up to rework into an ABG. Photograph: Bilibili screenshots
With the worldwide rise of Ok-pop and the popularization of Asian celebrities reminiscent of Jennie from Blackpink and Chinese language rapper Vava, a hip hop-influenced “Westernized” Asian aesthetic has grow to be more and more glamorized in China.
For some, the enchantment of this look lies in giving others the impression of getting lived or been educated overseas. The manufacturers sometimes worn, reminiscent of Hollister and Revolve, or luxurious labels like Gucci and Chanel, can denote standing and reaffirm perceptions of overseas existence.
On social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, Chinese language netizens converse of ABGs’ perceived confidence and independence.
“Along with their make-up, the distinction between Chinese language women and ABGs will also be seen of their gaze,” writes Jingzi Jing (@镜子靖). “ABGs have a extra commanding look of their eyes, and so they give off an impression of being much less involved about others’ evaluations and perceptions.”
Past an Asian American stereotype
Nevertheless, for a lot of members of the Asian diaspora, being an ABG is about greater than the aesthetic.
Within the West, the look has been criticized as one other restrictive stereotype that counters the traditional mannequin minority fable of the “well mannered, law-abiding, hard-working” Asian American.
Asian American girls have lengthy been stereotyped as timid and missing in assertiveness in society and the workforce.
“The angle of an ABG rebels in opposition to that notion, and embraces the precise reverse with darkish flashy make-up, tattoos, piercings, and uncooked aggression and sexuality,” writes blogger Karin Cho. “Nevertheless, that too may be problematic when there’s a whole motion of women wanting the identical means and performing equally.”
Because of the prominence of TV reveals reminiscent of Beef and American Born Chinese language, in addition to the recognition of The whole lot In every single place All At As soon as on the 2023 Oscars, Asian People are gaining better recognition of the variety and realities of their societal roles, look and self-expression.
And whereas depictions of East Asians within the West should be criticized for being shallow if not one-dimensional, it’s evident that the rising affect of the Asian diaspora is being felt in China.
Diasporic tendencies just like the ABG look will evolve within the coming years, because the roles and illustration of Asians abroad grow to be more and more nuanced. Future iterations of the ABG and different multicultural Asian aesthetics will mirror this improvement, each within the West and in China.
Further reporting by Sadie Bargeron, Kristie Chu and Huiyan Chen
