Why we don't trust the 'vanilla girl'

Forbes staff writer Steffi Cao discusses the rise of 'clean girl' and 'vanilla girl' aesthetics on TikTok, examining their political implications and promotion of white femininity. They explore the associations and exclusivity of the 'vanilla girl' aesthetic, question why white women embrace these beauty standards, and discuss the co-opting of East Asian culture by white society. They also touch on cyclical cultural appropriation and the impact of trends on minority communities.