A new trend has emerged on social media in China, where young, single women—who are not pregnant—are wearing fake baby bumps to take maternity photos. The so-called “pre-set photoshoot” trend is gaining popularity as these women aim to capture significant moments before they age.
The trend has surprised many Chinese parents, especially since the concept of being “single but pregnant” was once seen as shameful in traditional Chinese culture. This new phenomenon is gaining traction among Generation Z, amid a broader national trend of low marriage and birth rates. In the first nine months of 2024, only 4.75 million couples registered marriages, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The “premade maternity photos” trend became widely recognized after a video was posted by “Meizi Gege,” a Generation Z influencer from Hunan Province with more than 5.7 million followers. On October 13, she shared photos from a maternity photoshoot where she flaunted her slim figure and youthful appearance.
“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!” she said in the video.
The footage showed the influencer being assisted by a photographer and a friend, who helped attach the fake belly to her. She proudly posed, showing off her figure. In response to a viewer who said they were inspired to buy a fake belly and take similar photos, the influencer joked, “How can people be so smart!”
One 26-year-old graduate shared that she had taken her maternity photos at 23, even though she was not yet married. Another woman mentioned taking wedding photos at 22 “just in case I get wrinkles by 30.”
The process of taking these pre-set maternity photos is simple. The “fake belly,” available in various sizes and stages of pregnancy, can be purchased online. Many women are drawn to this trend as a way to capture perfect maternity photos without worrying about body changes later in pregnancy.
However, the trend has sparked public debate, with concerns about reinforcing unrealistic beauty standards, such as the emphasis on being “white, skinny, and young.” Critics argue that it promotes unhealthy body image expectations for new mothers, suggesting that women must maintain a youthful, slim figure throughout pregnancy—a standard that many believe is impossible to meet.
The craze has also led to humorous discussions online. Some netizens joked about taking photos for milestone events, such as one person saying they would take their 70th birthday photos now to appear young later, while another joked about taking funeral photos in advance.
Others have playfully suggested that the photos could be used for online dating when they are older, showing how the trend is sparking both serious reflection and lighthearted responses from Chinese netizens.
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