Can Listening to ‘Subliminals’ Make You Beautiful? Plenty of Women Believe It
A growing online community of young women is turning to 'subliminals'—audio and visual clips with affirmations and hypnotic sounds—to improve their physical appearance and overall well-being. These videos, popular on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, claim to help users manifest beauty, confidence, and success through subconscious repetition. While there is no scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness, many users report personal transformations and emotional benefits.
- ▪Subliminal videos often contain sped-up, garbled affirmations such as 'My face is naturally symmetrical, balanced, and breathtaking.'
- ▪The subliminals trend has roots in early internet forums, with one subreddit dating back to 2012.
- ▪Users report using subliminals for goals ranging from weight loss to attracting romantic partners.
- ▪Some subliminal content is modeled after celebrities, such as Megan Fox, to help users resemble them.
- ▪Though primarily focused on appearance, subliminals are also used for academic success, financial gain, and emotional healing.
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Miles KleeCultureMay 4, 2026 6:00 AMCan Listening to ‘Subliminals’ Make You Beautiful? Plenty of Women Believe ItAs young men pursue radical methods of “looksmaxxing,” young women are discovering a world of YouTube and TikTok videos that promise glow-ups through ASMR affirmations.Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this story“Do you think about me?”So asks a disembodied voice at the beginning of a TikTok from user @velvet.mind. The question is followed by hypnotic synth pulses, hissing static, and sped-up, garbled human speech. An accompanying visual: a montage of immaculately made-up and stylish women who could all be models—indeed, some of them probably are.
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