In late 2012, the world was introduced to the body trend phenomenon that quickly became the bane of many women’s existence: the thigh gap. The social media trend celebrated the space between the inner thighs of some women when standing upright (knees touching), while shaming those who didn’t have them.

Thankfully, a new body-positive trend has been gaining traction on social media: #MermaidThighs. All over Twitter and Instagram, women have started to embrace their thighs that touch.

Incase you didn’t know, I’m part mermaid???? #mermaidthighs #thickthighssavelives #thicknessisoursickness #crossfit #momswhorun #momswholift #momswithmuscle #mermaidleggings #impartmermaid
A photo posted by Lindsey Bent (@chasing.haley) on Mar 23, 2016 at 4:05am PDT

For every woman who has ever felt ashamed of her body for not having narrow thighs, the #MermaidThighs hashtag is a godsend.

#sommer #summertime #mermaidthighs #nothighgap
A photo posted by Sonja Weber (@sonja.we) on Aug 3, 2016 at 2:57pm PDT

This Instagram user writes: “Now, with this hashtag going viral, I hope that women who feel pressure to look a certain way or feel insecure with their bodies, see this as a chance to celebrate their bodies…because who doesn’t want to be a mermaid!?”

#MermaidThighs Mermaids have always had a special meaning to me. They represent grace and beauty but also a freedom and carefree attitude that growing up, I fantasized having. I used my imagination and evisioned myself as Ariel or Madison or any other mermaid to escape difficult situations when I was young. Getting a mermaid tattoo on my thigh (what a coincidence) signified a personal achievement of mine: finally being comfortable in who I am and what I look like. Last month, I had the pleasure of partaking in #projectmermaids where I literally BECAME a mermaid. Everyone who knows me, knows it was a dream come true. My mom and I got super emotional seeing the photos because it’s so much more than a tail. It symbolized my journey through domestic violence and self esteem issues. Now, with this hashtag going viral, I hope that women who feel pressure to look a certain way or feel insecure with their bodies, see this as a chance to celebrate their bodies…because who doesn’t want to be a mermaid!? #vivalacurvy #RealTalk #bodypositive #effyourbeautystandards #honormycurves #celebratemysize #bodydiversity
A photo posted by Ana Laura (@viva_la_curvy) on Aug 24, 2016 at 6:18pm PDT

Click to the next page for more body positivity and #MermaidThighs!

This illustration by Emma Jewell has been making the rounds on many social media platforms.

Photo: Emma Jewell/ These Glittery Hands

“There’s a new hashtag in town and I’m digging it.”

There’s a new hashtag in town and I’m digging it. ???? #mermaidthighs #nothighgap @instylemagazine #curvy #PlusIsEqual #ImNoAngel #mermaids #thighs #beautybeyondsize #beachbody #ClindOeil #GenevieveCharbonneau #JustineLeGault #hashtag #BeachBodyReady
A photo posted by Justine LeGault (@justinelegaultofficial) on Aug 24, 2016 at 4:48am PDT

#MermaidThighs isn’t about shaming people who have thigh gaps. It’s about loving your body, no matter what shape it comes in.

#MermaidThighs: The hashtag reminding us beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. ???????? #BodyPositive pic.twitter.com/hCnJqAUeXs
— amy (@HomaBound) August 22, 2016

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