Fake belly buttons all the rage in China as women seek ‘freedom to dress’ and boost confidence but some raise body image concerns
- Stick-on belly buttons that sit above person’s actual navel are latest fad in mainland China among women trying to make their legs look longer
- Cost of stickers is budget-friendly, with 32 stick-on navels available online for less than 60 US cents
A new trend for using fake belly buttons, breasts and buttocks among Chinese women has raised concerns about body image issues on mainland social media.
The latest fake body part to take off are fake belly buttons. Similar to temporary tattoos, the adhesive sticker is placed on the stomach a few centimetres above the actual navel, which is obscured, creating the illusion of longer legs that is widely perceived as more attractive, reported news outlet City Link.
On Pinduoduo, one of China’s largest online shopping platforms, the top-selling merchant offers two sheets of 32 navel stickers for less than 4 yuan (55 US cents) and has already taken 4,400 orders, according to the shop’s online sales figures.
The sticker’s popularity is evident among women on the social media platform Xiaohongshu.
“Every summer, I always feel troubled. I really want to wear stylish and sexy outfits, but I’m held back by my body shape – they just don’t look good on me, and I lack the confidence,” said one woman.