• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.17-37
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• 2024

This study examines the rise of the Body Positive Movement on TikTok and its role as a form of online content activism influencing the fashion design and industry. Through a combination of literature review and case study methodology, the study explores the expression techniques and thematic types of Body Positive Movement on TikTok. Reviews of literature, previous studies, online articles, fashion journals, and relevant search terms on TikTok informed a definition of Body Positive Movement and an analysis of its formation and rise. The research findings confirm the impact TikTok content on Body Positive Movement has on the fashion industry in addressing external factors (i.e., 'Appearance', 'Race', 'Aging', 'Physical Disability') and intrinsic factors (i.e., 'Acceptance of Diversity', 'Self-Esteem', 'Rejection of Stereotypes', 'Appropriate Representation', 'Information Provision'). The key external factor , 'Appearance', includes subcategories such as 'Body Shape', 'Body Hair', 'Skin', and 'Facial Features'. TikTok content creators on fashion creatively combine music, emojis, and visual storytelling to exhibit positive self-perception concerning these factors. A significant finding of the study is that short clips predominantly manifesting external factors differentiate into informative or enlightening videos associated with intrinsic factors. The study underscores Body Positive Movement's important influence on the fashion industry from design to presentation.