*In China, young women are increasingly participating in fake maternity photoshoots, using artificial baby bumps to capture “pregnancy” pictures.
According to the New York Post, the trend gained attention after Gen Z influencer Meizi Gege shared her fake baby bump experience with her 5.7 million followers, sparking a wave of similar admissions and interest.
“While I’m still slim, I wore a fake belly to take maternity photos and enjoyed a pre-made life. I even did it with my best friend!” Meizi Gege told her followers, per the South China Morning Post.
A woman who watched the video said: “I have learned something new. I am going to buy a fake belly and take maternity photos while I am still at my slimmest!” to which the influencer replied: “How can people be so smart!”
With China’s birth rates declining and the average age of first-time mothers rising—reaching over 30 in cities like Shanghai—many women feel pressure to document idealized versions of pregnancy before experiencing physical changes from actual motherhood. The practice reflects broader societal concerns, including beauty standards prioritizing youth and slimness, which critics argue fuel body image issues.
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The fake pregnancy accessories, readily available online in various sizes, allow women to pose as if they are at different stages of pregnancy. While some embrace the trend for its aesthetic appeal, others condemn it for promoting “white, skinny and young” beauty standards and for trivializing pregnancy.
Per SCMP, the influencer’s post sparked humorous discussions, with one person saying: “I will shoot my 70th birthday photos now and then post them on social media later. It will make me look so young!”
Another joked: “I will find some time to arrange my funeral pictures before I die.”
A third commented, “I must take more photos while I am still young, so I can use them for online dating when I am older.”
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