The Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, is described by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, as a type of fat transfer designed to shape and enhance the buttocks. Basically during this cosmetic surgery fat is taken from one part of your body and moved to your butt to make it fuller and more lifted — no implants involved.

While people of all backgrounds get cosmetic work done, BBLs have become especially popular among Black women. Unlike the Eurocentric beauty ideal that’s all about being super thin, a lot of Black women are drawn to what’s often called the “thick ideal” — that balance between slim and curvy. And with so many Black celebrities and influencers either getting BBLs, talking about them, or showing off those results on social media, it’s no surprise the trend has blown up and become part of the larger body image conversation. Since these platforms often shape beauty standards, spread information (and misinformation), and amplify cultural trends, it’s important to understand how they contribute to the way Black women share experiences, opinions, and perceptions of procedures like BBLs within their communities.

In this episode, we sit down with Lauryn Grubbs, a doctoral student in the Human Centered Design Apparel Design program at Cornell University.

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