For decades, Western beauty standards in entertainment often favored thinness. However, the 2010s saw a cultural shift, heavily influenced by hip-hop culture and the rise of social media influencers, that celebrated fuller figures. Performers like Rose Monroe were at the forefront of this shift. By unapologetically showcasing her body, she helped normalize a different kind of beauty standard, one that embraced hips and curves.
: The influx of women into industrial roles led the National War Labor Board to direct that women and minorities receive the same pay as white men for the same work. rose monroe
To understand the career of Rose Monroe, one must understand the cultural niche she came to dominate. In the internet age, niche communities drive traffic, and Monroe became the undisputed queen of a specific acronym: PAWG (Phat Ass White Girl—or, more broadly in her case, a celebration of curvy figures regardless of racial classification). For decades, Western beauty standards in entertainment often