What does low income white girl eyes and trailer park cheekbones mean? Viral TikTok trend explained

TikTok is known for having many trends that go viral and spark discussions. Recently, users have begun using the phrases “low-income white girl eyes” and “trailer park cheekbones,” leading to confusion and criticism in equal measure.

In an article published by MSN.com, Most users agree that both terms refer to an aesthetic aesthetic defined by an eyelid covered with sleepy or smudged makeup (think smudged highlights and eye makeup)..

However, some also believe that this trend mimics women “who live in less than ideal circumstances.” Speaking about the trend of low-income white girl eyes and trailer park cheekbones, author Florine Tiedemann of Betches likened it to “fetish[ing]low-income looks,” adding:

“Despite what appearance entails, the name is somewhat derogatory. It reduces the appearance of people who are low-income or living in a trailer park to a specific appearance. Again, we are treating a feature of poverty or working-class conditions as an appearance “Aesthetically, not in reality.”

The low-income white girl trend began on TikTok sometime in October 2024

According to the Daily Dot, the phrase “low-income white girl eyes” began trending on TikTok in early to mid-October 2024. Some of the first videos on the platform saw users wondering if their features, specifically their eyes, looked like their own. Low-income people White girls. It quickly gained traction and, by December, had gone viral.

TikTok users quickly began associating the term with the cheekbones in the trailers. It is another aesthetic brand that is characterized by the use of makeup, with the prominent use of highlighter and contour to give the appearance of sunken cheeks.

As the two words spread, the eyes of the low-income white girl and the cheekbones of the trailer park Tik TokNetizens expressed their confusion. Many criticized this trend for being “classist” and a way to belittle people. Here are some comments seen on the Reddit thread r/beauty by user u/Professional_Flan20:

Many criticized trends to reinforce class differences and exacerbate insecurity among some women. Despite the criticism, some users claim it wasn’t meant to be an insult, including TikTok user Melody (@melodylauer780).

According to MSN.com, Melody detailed what the trend entails and how to create the look. It starts with applying concealer under the eyes, followed by drawing a thick, dense line with eyeliner above and below the eyelids. Melody explained:

“The more stained, the better.”

The next step is to apply a thin line of blue eye shadow over the eyeliner. Next, Melody suggests applying “some kind of white gloss” to the top of the eyelid. The final step is to finish the look with mascara, specifically making it look cakey. Author Florin Tiedemann of Betches described the look as:

“Basically, I’m in high school.”

According to Betches, the comments under Melody’s video referred to several women claiming that he was referencing beauty trends over recent years.

Some recent TikTok trends that have gone viral include: Sofia dance directionsparked by a viral video of media personality Sofia Richie Grainge. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Grainge and TikToker Jake Shane shared a video of themselves dancing to Lola Young’s song. messy. Sofia’s rhythmic shaking and swaying on the track gave off a cool girl energy that caught on with many people trying to replicate the dance.