An actress shows her slim waist. (Photo from Sino Weibo)
(ECNS) – Showing off an "A4 waist" — a waist that can be covered by a piece of standard A4 paper — has become the new trend on China's social media. It comes hot on the heels of the belly button challenge, which involves attempting to touch your belly button by reaching behind your back. Only the skinniest can achieve it.
Photos of entertainment stars and netizens showing their thin waists covered by pieces of A4 paper, which is less than 21 centimeters in width, have garnered many hits and sparked heated debate.
Hu Yeqiu, a culture expert, said the phenomenon indicates an unprecedented chaos in public taste, as well as the power of Internet marketers.
Tangjiasanshao, a well-known Internet-based writer, posted on Twitter-like Weibo that the "A4 waist" is a sign of malnutrition. He initiated an "A3 waist" campaign, a sentiment echoed by many followers, who said health is more important than a good figure.
"How about measuring the waist using the longer sides of the A4 paper?" asked one netizen.
The fashionability of a slim waist can be traced back to ancient China, when the Han Dynasty Empress Zhao Feiyan (45 AD—1 BC) was said to be famous for dancing on a palm. Even in the Tang Dynasty (618—907), when plumper figures were in favor, there are still many verses describing the charm of slender waists.
