Lately, TikTok has been buzzing with a fresh trend that's both quirky and satirical: the "very mindful, very demure" phenomenon. This trend has quickly gained traction, with users across the platform poking fun at the concept of being overly modest and contemplative in increasingly absurd situations.
The trend really took off when TikTok influencer Jools Lebron, who boasts over 1.2 million followers, began sharing her comedic take on what it means to be “demure” and “mindful.” In one of her viral videos, which has racked up an impressive 8 million views, Lebron gives a tongue-in-cheek guide on maintaining a modest and respectful demeanor at work. She jokes about her minimalist makeup and understated outfit choices, playfully advising her viewers to avoid dressing provocatively and to be ever-mindful of why they were hired. Her exaggeratedly polite and self-effacing manner is clearly intended to be humorous.
But Jools isn’t the only one capitalizing on this trend. Other TikTok users have embraced the “demure” aesthetic in various amusing contexts. For instance, one user demonstrated how to be “demure” while taking antidepressants, making light of the serious subject by emphasizing how “mindful” she is of her prescription. Another creative twist involved an Olympic athlete’s failed high jump, humorously captioned to imply the athlete had a moment of clarity and chose to remain “classy and demure” rather than taking a risk.
The trend has even spilled over to other social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where users have remarked on the sudden popularity of the term "demure." One user humorously noted the surge of tweets using the word, while another declared it the “word of the week.” This playful trend also highlights the cyclical nature of social media phenomena, as it builds on past trends such as the "clean girl" aesthetic and the "coquette" style, which both emphasized particular visual and behavioral norms.
What's particularly interesting is how this trend satirizes the earlier “clean girl” and “coquette” trends. The “clean girl” trend, which emerged in 2022, celebrated a minimalist, effortlessly chic appearance, paired with a disciplined self-care routine. Meanwhile, the “coquette” trend, gaining steam in 2023, embraced a hyper-feminine and flirtatious style, often involving bows and pastel colors. The new “demure” trend takes these concepts to an exaggerated extreme, humorously suggesting that one can be excessively reserved and mindful in any situation, no matter how trivial.
This trend isn’t just a passing joke. It reflects a broader cultural fascination with self-presentation and social norms. The satire of “being demure” in ludicrous scenarios underscores how social media trends often play with and amplify certain behaviors and aesthetics. As with any viral trend, the appeal may be fleeting, but for now, it’s providing a humorous commentary on the pressures of self-presentation and mindfulness in modern life.
In short, TikTok’s “very mindful, very demure” trend is a playful and satirical commentary on how we navigate social norms and expectations. It’s a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of online culture and how even the simplest concepts can be transformed into something hilariously elaborate.
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