Have you ever laughed at a meme so much it stuck with you for days? The Hyperpigmentation Meme is one of those viral moments taking over TikTok and YouTube. It features a simple drawing of a girl with a small, filled-in circle on her cheek.
That circle? It’s sparking jokes, art, and even conversations about skin conditions like hyperpigmentation.
This meme isn’t new—it actually started in 2019! But now, it’s back stronger than ever in 2025 thanks to TikTok trends. In this blog, we’ll break down its origins, how creators are using it today, and why millions love it.
Ready to unpack what makes this trend shine? Keep reading!
Key Takeaways
- The hyperpigmentation meme began in 2019, created by Sonia Tiebi, featuring a simple sketch of a girl with a dark circle on her cheek.
- It regained popularity in 2025 after TikTok’s temporary U.S. ban led users to revisit older trends. The hashtag #hyperpigmentation gained over 16 million views across platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
- TikTok and YouTube creators used the meme for humor, storytelling, and discussions about skin conditions like melasma or acne scars. Family-centered jokes boosted its relatability online.
- Artistic recreations flourished, from animations to drawings inspired by Sonia’s daughter’s updated works shared in January 2025. These updates fueled new engagement globally.
- Social media users praised the meme for blending comedy with cultural awareness about skin health while sparking debates on beauty standards and identity issues worldwide.
Origin of the Hyperpigmentation Meme
Sonia Tiebi sketched the meme in 2019. It shows a simple drawing of a woman with a ponytail and a dark circle on her cheek, symbolizing hyperpigmentation.
The idea came to life on May 4, 2019, in Omaha, Nebraska. Sonia uploaded it first on her X (formerly Twitter) account that July. ViralHog shared the video version by June 2019.
Why the Meme Resurfaced in 2025
The hyperpigmentation meme saw new life in 2025. TikTok faced a temporary ban in the United States, which left users nostalgic for popular content. Many began revisiting old trends.
On January 31, Jennifer Zhan wrote about its cultural impact on Vulture, sparking fresh discussions.
Hotfudgesonia reposted updates showing the original framed drawing. Using humor, she teased fans about selling it. The hashtag #hyperpigmentation trended again with over 16 million views across platforms.
This viral wave brought laughter and connected people through shared memories online.
TikTok’s Role in the Meme’s Popularity
TikTok breathed new life into the hyperpigmentation meme. Sonia’s repost of her daughter’s video on @hotfudgesonia in 2022 sparked interest, reaching millions. By 2025, TikTok had temporarily been banned in the United States, pushing users to revisit older trends.
The hashtag #hyperpigmentation exploded with over 16 million views across social media platforms, keeping momentum alive.
January 2025 saw a fresh update from Sonia herself. She uploaded a montage showcasing her daughter’s newer works featuring filled circles in art pieces. This caught fire on FYPシ pages and made its way to countless For You feeds globally.
Users connected with the humor, daily experiences, and creative storytelling tied to themes like melanin and skin health struggles such as acne or sunburns. Comments flooded posts using captions like “never looked better” or playful replies about sunscreen advice gone wrong!
How YouTube Creators Are Adapting the Trend
YouTube creators are jumping on the hyperpigmentation meme trend with flair. Many upload original content that mirrors the humor from the viral clip posted by ViralHog in 2019. Some focus on artistic recreations, adding twists like playful animations or dramatic readings of captions.
Others mix comedy with skincare tips, referencing conditions like melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation as a funny nod to “relatable struggles.”.
The meme’s family-centered humor resonates strongly. Creators often share stories involving their own parents or siblings while mimicking its style. Videos playing off this trend regularly receive thousands of likes and comments from fans who find them just as fantastic as the originals.
Over time, numerous spin-offs have evolved, keeping old viewers entertained and drawing in fresh ones every day!
Notable Reactions and Comments from Social Media
The hyperpigmentation meme has sparked laughter and endless debate online. Social media users didn’t hold back with their comments, reactions, and creative spins.
- Sonia’s husband’s uncontrollable laughter from the original video went viral, inspiring memes about relatable family moments.
- Jennifer Zhan described the trend as a perfect mix of humor and cultural awareness in her 2025 blog post for Vulture.
- Many TikTok users tagged #hyperpigmentation, pushing it past 16 million views on platforms like Instagram and Twitter too.
- A senior art critic, Jerry Saltz, praised the meme’s artistic recreations, stating that creativity shouldn’t come with shame or judgment.
- Posts using “foryoupage” saw explosive engagement, especially among younger audiences interested in skin talk and beauty trends.
- Cece’s comment—“This is exactly what I needed today”—gained over 10k likes under one TikTok version of the meme for its genuine relatability.
- Some parents joined in with #parentsoftiktok to share versions of their children reacting hilariously to similar moments at home.
Social buzz keeps growing as many users connect to both its humor and deeper messages about beauty standards worldwide!
Artistic Interpretations and Recreations of the Meme
Artistic takes on the hyperpigmentationmeme have spread like wildfire. Creators across platforms are adding their own flair to the trend.
- Sonia, the mother of the original artist, shared new works by her daughter in January 2025. These newer creations used filled circles and more detailed features, showing progress in her talent.
- TikTok users have turned the meme into animations. Some edits include backgrounds relating to physical fitness or sun tanning, reflecting how people connect art with real-life moments.
- On YouTube, creators added dramatic music and voice-overs to highlight emotional parts of the viral video. A popular example included tying it to stories about postinflammatory hyperpigmentation treatments.
- Fans across social media started drawing their own versions of the woman with a ponytail from years ago. Many artists even experimented using tools like Hydroquinone as a metaphor for blending or shading darker tones in illustrations.
- Reactions from famous figures like Jerry Saltz encouraged others to embrace imperfections in creative work without embarrassment, sparking even more recreations online.
- Artistic memes featuring freckles or Acanthosis nigricans became trendy within Facebook groups that discuss hyperpigmentation-related issues.
- Birthday shout-outs tied into meme recreations gained traction too, where creators would redraw the figure holding signs with personalized messages like “💜 Happy Birthday!”
These interpretations stirred deeper engagement online while keeping creativity alive on every social site involved!
The Impact of the Meme on Online Culture
Social media exploded with #hyperpigmentation memes, gaining over 16 million views. TikTok and YouTube became the main platforms for this viral sensation. Teens and adults alike shared videos that combined humor, family moments, and artistic twists.
These posts didn’t just entertain—they started conversations about skin, genetics, and even conditions like Addison’s disease or Dermatitis.
The meme inspired creators to experiment more freely. Some users posted raw sketches or recreated “hyperpigmentation girl” drawings in bold colors. Others poked fun at how terms like “brown” or “hair” get misunderstood online.
Reactions flooded in: laughs, replies asking “what’s this about?”, and debates on whether medicine or appearance defines identity today. This wasn’t just a trend—it reshaped how people interact with art and culture on sites ruled by Recaptcha protections like Google Privacy Policy pages!
Takeaways
The hyperpigmentation meme has become a wild hit online. TikTok and YouTube breathed new life into it, making it part of everyday laughs and art. Creators have embraced the trend, showing humor and creativity in fresh ways.
This meme doesn’t just entertain—it connects people through shared jokes and clever twists on an old idea. Its reach proves the Internet loves to turn simple ideas into something bigger.
FAQs on Hyperpigmentation Meme
1. What is the hyperpigmentation meme trend?
The hyperpigmentation meme trend is an Internet meme where people humorously talk about skin issues, often blending funny descriptions with relatable moments on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
2. Why are TikTok and YouTube videos part of this trend?
TikTok and YouTube provide a space for creators to reply to comments, share stories, or improve conversations around topics like Addison’s disease or momlife struggles in creative ways.
3. Does this trend have anything to do with medical conditions?
Yes, some content connects the memes to real conditions like Addison’s disease while keeping it lighthearted. But remember, these posts don’t replace professional advice.
4. How does Google’s policy affect viewing these videos?
When you watch these videos on sites protected by reCAPTCHA, Google’s privacy policy and terms of service apply—so your activity might be tracked under those rules.
5. Why has this meme taken over the Internet so fast?
It’s quick-witted, relatable across multiple audiences, and easy to share worldwide on platforms that thrive on trends like TikTok and YouTube!