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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UFL chapter.

Looking in the mirror, Samantha* sees more than we do. She sees the struggles and the transformations she went through to get her health back after a three-year battle with anorexia nervosa.

She now looks at her legs and sees strength instead of seeing her constant battle to keep them from touching.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), fixation on single body parts is a common trend, but thigh gaps have reached the point of frenzy.

“It doesn’t make sense if you think about it, but I needed that gap like I needed air,” Samantha said.

The thigh gap is the space between the top of the thighs when someone stands with their feet together.

According to the NEDA, the thigh gap isn’t something that can be accomplished by eating a certain way or by exercising. A woman must have a very specific hip structure and a naturally ultra-thin physique to have a gap. That’s where the problem comes in.

An entire Internet culture revolves around “thin-spiration,” how to get it, and why you need it. Women are not-eating themselves to death in hopes of getting a gap they don’t need (and can’t get) — a gap that could kill them. Here’s some “thin-speration” via Tumblr:

What’s the problem here? She has a flat tummy and thin legs and arms. Yeah, no problem there. The issue is this look isn’t possible for everyone; for example, that look is nearly impossible for a beautiful gal whose body looks like this:

Being a natural skinny-mini is perfectly fine. But trying to be a size 7 with sexy BeyoncĂ©-legs and a thigh gap? It’s time to get real. Own your curvy, thigh touching, soft belly, strong-armed self. Like our favorite celebs:


Love your body, and don’t put a gap where one doesn’t belong.

Journalism major with a minor in education. Currently a copywriter for Infinite Energy. Twitter handle: @DiadysFig
Cara oversees Her Campus Media's community department and serves as strategic lead for the expansion, development and management of all HCM communities, including the Her Campus Chapter Network, InfluenceHer Collective, College Fashionista, Spoon University, Campus Trendsetters, alumni and high school. She works closely with company leadership to develop new community-related sales offerings and the Integrated Marketing team to support all community-focused client marketing programs from end to end. Cara has experience working with high-profile talent, such as Jessica Alba, Andrew Yang, Amber Tamblyn, Aja Naomi King, Troian Bellisario, Jessica Marie Garcia, Nico Tortorella, Nastia Liukin, Rebecca Minkoff, Cecile Richards and Samantha Power, as well as brands like Coca-Cola, L'Oréal Paris, The New York Times, HBO, Uber, H&M and more. Having been a part of the HC family since 2011, Cara served as Campus Correspondent of the HC chapter at the University of Florida where she studied journalism, women’s studies and leadership. A New Yorker turned Floridian, Cara has a Friends quote for any situation. You can usually find her with her friends and family at the beach, a concert or live sports event or binge-watching Grey's Anatomy or Sons of Anarchy. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @thecararose.