What is Looksmaxing / Mewing? by Logan Luft
Many trends began to skyrocket as the new year began. Some of us are familiar with these, such as Stanley Cups, the MetaVerse, and many more; however, two phrases may stick out from the others. These two phrases are “Looksmaxing” and “Mewing,” but what exactly are these and what do they mean?
Many people describe looksmaxing as a cool upgrade for your physical appearance/self-esteem. There are many examples people say can improve your look, some of these are simple as going to the gym and working out your physical body, or getting a new hairstyle/haircut; however, some include doing something called “mewing” which we will get to soon. The way this grew in popularity is mainly from different social media platforms such as TikTok or Instagram. Many influencers and celebrities will advertise their workout plan or tips and tricks to overall improve your look, which most follow.
When we begin to look at the meaning of the word “mewing” it's not what most people think. Some people believe that this is another slang; however, it has a different meaning. Mewing is a type of exercise for your jawline that involves moving the tip of your tongue behind your teeth without them touching repeatedly. Mewing mostly became popular among high schoolers. The benefits of mewing could improve the sharpness of your jawline and correct the position of your tongue in your mouth. Many students look at this as a joke because of its popularity, while others focus on improving their looks, looksmaxing, and overall helping with their self-esteem.
Although these terms seem non-controversial, some believe differently. Some argue that focusing too much on looks rather than mentality, can ruin or lower your self-esteem and create unrealistic standards. Even though high school is already a time for self-discovery and identity formation, the pressure of looking a certain way and acting a certain way can cause many problems mentally.
Though the pros of improving your looks can be beneficial, it's also important to focus on what you believe your flaws are rather than reaching the so-called “standard”.
Many people describe looksmaxing as a cool upgrade for your physical appearance/self-esteem. There are many examples people say can improve your look, some of these are simple as going to the gym and working out your physical body, or getting a new hairstyle/haircut; however, some include doing something called “mewing” which we will get to soon. The way this grew in popularity is mainly from different social media platforms such as TikTok or Instagram. Many influencers and celebrities will advertise their workout plan or tips and tricks to overall improve your look, which most follow.
When we begin to look at the meaning of the word “mewing” it's not what most people think. Some people believe that this is another slang; however, it has a different meaning. Mewing is a type of exercise for your jawline that involves moving the tip of your tongue behind your teeth without them touching repeatedly. Mewing mostly became popular among high schoolers. The benefits of mewing could improve the sharpness of your jawline and correct the position of your tongue in your mouth. Many students look at this as a joke because of its popularity, while others focus on improving their looks, looksmaxing, and overall helping with their self-esteem.
Although these terms seem non-controversial, some believe differently. Some argue that focusing too much on looks rather than mentality, can ruin or lower your self-esteem and create unrealistic standards. Even though high school is already a time for self-discovery and identity formation, the pressure of looking a certain way and acting a certain way can cause many problems mentally.
Though the pros of improving your looks can be beneficial, it's also important to focus on what you believe your flaws are rather than reaching the so-called “standard”.