Skinny AI and chubby AI are the latest trending TikTok filters, altering images of users’ bodies to add or reduce weight. The controversial trend has sparked significant backlash, with creators calling out the technologies for perpetuating harmful body ideals.
Newcastle-based user Sophie Gibb’s post with the chubby filter has had 11.6 million views, while user Mollie Clark’s clip has 10.9 million views. Another video using the filter, posted by TikTok user Ruby (x.rubymenditta), features an image of her and two friends with the text “every time the girls say ‘I can’t make the gym today’ im gonna tell them we will look like this on the girls holiday [sic]”. This has had 430,000 views and 22,000 likes, as well as more than 200 comments, both supporting and criticising the post.
@gymgirlamy Defo making sure I control this bulk now😂 #chubbyfilter #caloriesurplus #bulkingseason
Creators have used “chubby” AI too. Fitness influencer Amy, who has more than 31,000 followers, shared a clip with the filter. The video has had more than 700 primarily negative comments, and the creator has responded by defending her post.
The skinny AI filter, which is overlaid with the text “seeing how I’d look skinny for motivation”, has also been used by many TikTok users. Yoselin Suarez’s video has 17.9 million views and 794,000 likes. Another video, by user Zoe B, has had 9.9 million views, 304,000 likes and almost 1,300 comments – many criticising the trend and the user. Meanwhile, Leesha posted a clip with 2.3 million views.
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Problematic behaviours driven by the trend
More concerning is the fact some posts feature stolen pictures of creators or celebrities, with people comparing their appearance with and without the filter. UK lifestyle creator Chloe Pavlou shared her image had been stolen and used for a skinny AI post without her consent. The clip was posted by video editing company CapCut’s German account, and has since been deleted after Pavlou encouraged her followers to report the post. “If you are using this trend, it is not funny, it’s giving nasty,” she said.
The filter trend started around the same time as creator Becki Jones announced she was leaving TikTok due to hateful comments, mainly about her weight and eating habits. Her video gained more than 10.7 million views and messages of support from prominent influencers and brand accounts. At the same time, TikTok users have been using the skinny AI filter on images of Jones, making her reasons for leaving even more valid.
@sadiebass16 Literally when did we start body shaming again? Why are we going backwards in 2025!!! #chubbyfilter #bodyshaming #bodyimage
All of this has been branded “toxic” and “harmful”. Solo van travel creator Stella slammed the trend in a video with 2.1 million views. She wrote “a reminder that I live in this body, it’s my home and it’s thanks to trends like this I want to cover it up”. Sadie Bass also called out the chubby AI filter in a TikTok with 520,000 views and wrote “why are we going backwards in 2025”. Her post has had more than 600 comments.
The resurgence of skinny as an ideal
Model and consultant Felicity Hayward analyses the inclusion of curve models at fashion weeks. She found that London had 68% less plus size models than last season, while New York saw a 50% dip in curve models. With markers indicating a move towards a thinner body ideal and this generating significant commentary, brands should consider how this will impact scrutiny of campaigns.
In the age of Ozempic (#ozempic has 415,000 TikTok posts), trends such as chubby AI and skinny AI are amplifying the narrative that being skinny is all that matters. This is reminiscent of the early 2010s when similar messaging proliferated Tumblr to the extent that it banned eating disorder blogs. Will TikTok take action to protect young people in the same way? Things don’t look positive so far.
By Dina Zubi, news and features writer for CORQ.
Dear the ASA, the damage being caused by filters isn’t just happening in ads