men want a "hot hamster girlfriend"
my little prank to get men to openly lust over women’s "flaws"
Have you heard about the "hot rodent boyfriend" trend? You know, the one where men's physical imperfections are suddenly the new sexy? For those of you who aren’t extremely online, the "hot rodent boyfriend" trend celebrates features traditionally viewed as quirky or unconventional in men like sharp eyes and angular faces, and turning them into desirable attributes that resemble a mouse or rat. Women are pining over men who don’t fit the widely accepted standards of attractiveness, and marking the moment as “Rat Boy Summer.”
Well, I got to thinking: what if we flipped the script? What if men started celebrating women’s so-called imperfections with the same enthusiasm as women do? Armed with a mischievous plan, I ventured to Washington Square Park for a little social experiment. My mission? Prank some unsuspecting guys into believing that men are creating body-positive trends for women. With a twinkle in my eye and some ridiculous BS in my back pocket, I went to work.
Hot Hamster Girlfriend: The New Sexy
First up, I introduced the "hot hamster girlfriend" trend. Picture this: men are now obsessed with women who have chunky cheeks, some fur, and short feet—basically, women who channel their inner adorable hamster. And guess what? The guys were totally into it! They nodded along, eyes wide with enthusiasm, as if they’d always secretly adored hamster-like traits. A nocturnal animal who sleeps all day and forages for food filling up her soft little pouch? The guys couldn’t contain their excitement. Many of them confessed to loving when a woman has a “fupa,” which is some extra fat around the lower belly, which is HOT HAMPSTER GIRLFRIEND CORE. In a matter of minutes, the men were coming up with reasons to love a trend they didn’t even know existed a few minutes ago.
Big Back Fat Summer: Because Why Not?
Next, I unveiled "big back fat summer." I spun a tale of men celebrating women with back fat, seeing it as a sign of comfort and cozy cuddles. And would you believe it? The men I spoke to were all in. They started gushing about how they’d always found love handles and muffin tops attractive but just needed society’s blessing to admit it.
Cellulite Cuties: The Final Frontier
Finally, I presented them with the extremely popular "cellulite cuties" trend where men I painted a picture of men embracing cellulite as the new sexy, appreciating the character and uniqueness it adds. The reactions? Pure gold. These guys didn’t just believe me—they started waxing poetic about the beauty of cellulite, like they’d been waiting their whole lives for someone to tell them it was okay to love it.
Mission Accomplished?
By the end of my little experiment, I had a revelation: maybe men just needed a bit of permission to openly appreciate a diversity of women's bodies. It turns out the stick-thin figure isn't the only form of beauty, and plenty of men are ready to embrace that. They just needed a nudge (or in this case, a prank).
My goal with this social experiment was to highlight a societal double standard: men can have so-called "ugly" physical traits that are seen as attractive or cute, while women are often pressured to conform to narrowly defined beauty standards. The trend reveals a deeper issue where men's physical imperfections are romanticized, whereas women’s are often stigmatized. The goal was to make you laugh, but also to remind us of the need to challenge and expand our perceptions of beauty for everybody.
So, what did I learn from my day of deception? That maybe, just maybe, we’re on the brink of a more inclusive understanding of beauty standards. One where everyone’s "flaws" are celebrated as unique and desirable, not just men. And by the way, I told every man i interviewed that I had made up all these terms, but in the end it didn’t matter. They had already embraced all these made-up trends, and hopefully it means that they will actually catch on!
Until next time, stay fabulous, embrace your beautiful selves, and remember: if you can’t find the trend you want, just make it up!
With love,
x
-Liz
Editor-in-Chief, Airplane Mode
Are you living for these pranks and juicy journalism? Well, here’s your chance to keep the magic alive. For just $5 a month, you can support my shenanigans and get exclusive access to the behind-the-scenes chaos.
Think of it as your all-access pass to mischief, mayhem, and meaningful stories. Your contribution helps me continue to flip scripts, challenge norms, and, of course, prank unsuspecting men with my wild ideas.
Ready to be part of the fun? Click here to sign up and join my merry band of mischief-makers! Thank you 🎉😄 Your contribution of 5$ a month allows me to keep doing this important work!
give the men what they want!
What men want and what media tell us men want is not the same thing.