Weird2 min(s) read
Published 15:15 07 Aug 2026 GMT
On the third anniversary of the start of the "beautiful mid" trend, the story of the original girl behind the photo that started the entire meme has been revealed.
Of course, the phrase itself is completely oxymoronic - it seems impossible that something can be at once both beautiful and "mid" - but it has been shortcut internet slang to describe what some deem to be an ideal attraction.
That men want a woman who can be considered beautiful and approachable, but is not considered "hot," or out of their league.
The phrase caught traction on social media, specifically X (formerly known as Twitter), where male users would use a picture of a woman to declare "all a man wants is a beautiful mid woman."
As the trend of "beautiful mid" was catching fire on X - originating as a post to engagement farm but then causing widespread discourse throughout the site - the term was, for many, typified when an account shared a restaurant selfie taken by Evelyn Smith, a user on the photo-editing app VSCO.
The selfie then began to be used in more and more posts, until for a time it was a standard picture to use in memes posted on X and shared throughout countless other social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
The use of Smith's photo and the very concept of "beautiful mid" became a debate and discussion on attraction throughout social media.
Because it resonated with so many people, it seemed to suggest that people are more attracted to someone who they can deem as relatable and approachable, rather than someone that they may deem unattainable.
It just so happened that Smith's selfie, whether she knew it or not, became the unifying symbol of this train of thought.
What started as engagement farming slowly transformed into a genuine cultural conversation about attraction across the world.
Evelyn Smith has not made any public comments about her selfie being used in the growth and discussion of the "beautiful mid" meme.
Her account on VSCO is still active, however, and does show that she has dyed her hair from brown to platinum blonde.
It appears that her Instagram account, however, has been made private, possibly as a result of the increased attention following the meme trend.
