Back in the day at my middle school, showing your shoulders was considered scandalous, wearing mascara was a big deal, and we were banned from wearing yoga pants.
Today, middle schoolers are not only dressing like adults, but they are also adorning themselves with beauty enhancements that would’ve made my teachers blow a gasket.
TikToker Whitney Ainscough (@itsmebadmom), also known as “bad mom,” went viral for allowing her 11-year-old daughter to wear heavily decorated acrylic nails and false eyelashes.
In the video posted on December 11th, she instructed her daughter, Cora, to show off her nails. When the camera panned down to reveal her nails, viewers were exposed to what appeared to be a bright pink candy shop mess.
Acrylic nails are one thing, but many believed the manicure was impractical and over the top for anyone, not to mention a child.
Each nail had charms affixed to it. One of the nails featured a giant lollipop, while another had a flower and a gummy bear.
“These are the best nails I have ever seen,” declared Whitney. “Look at them. Absolutely stunning. Like sweet nails, and you’ve even got fizzy sweets on the end. They are literally the nicest nails ever.”
Several commenters deemed the nails to be repulsive, calling them the ugliest things they had ever seen.
Some pointed out that kids used to get by with much less and expressed concern for how recent generations are trying to grow up too quickly.
“All I had when I was 11 was a tin of Vaseline!” exclaimed one person.
“This is so, so bad. Kids can never just be kids nowadays,” wrote another.
“She is 11, you’re missing the point. Should be encouraging her to appreciate her natural self as a parent to an 11-year-old,” chimed in a third.
After receiving a comment questioning the fact that her 11-year-old was wearing false lashes, the mom posted a short clip showcasing the lashes the very next day. “There’s not a problem with them. It’s not affecting her learning,” she proclaimed.
What do you think? Is it okay for girls her age to be wearing stuff like this?
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By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
