It started as a joke. Then it became a meme. Now, it’s a weirdly persistent piece of internet history that refuses to die. If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Pinterest lately, you’ve probably seen the side-by-side comparisons of high-fashion models and a certain lanky, bug-eyed mammal from the Ice Age franchise. Specifically, the Victoria's Secret Sid the Sloth phenomenon has become the shorthand for a very specific, very divisive aesthetic in the modeling world.
Let's be real. The fashion industry has always had a "look." But for a long time, that look was strictly about "pretty." Then, things shifted. Suddenly, the "alien" look was in. High fashion started leaning into features that were striking, asymmetrical, or—to put it bluntly—a little bit weird. This is where the Sid the Sloth comparisons come from. It’s not necessarily an insult, even if it sounds like one. It’s a commentary on the "wide-set eye" trend that took over the runways of Victoria’s Secret and luxury brands like Prada and Gucci.
The Face That Launched a Thousand Memes
Why Sid? Honestly, it’s the eyes. Sid the Sloth, voiced by John Leguizamo, is known for eyes that are basically in different zip codes. In the mid-2010s and leading into the 2020s, the modeling industry became obsessed with "wide-set eyes." Look at models like Anya Taylor-Joy (though she’s an actress, she fits the vibe) or certain Victoria’s Secret Angels. There is a specific facial structure—a narrow chin, high cheekbones, and eyes spaced far apart—that mimics the animated sloth's silhouette.
People started noticing that some of the most beautiful women in the world shared a geometry with a cartoon character who eats rotten berries.
It’s a bizarre crossover. You have these multimillion-dollar contracts, wings made of real feathers, and millions of fans. And then you have a sloth who can’t walk straight. Yet, the internet bridged that gap. The Victoria's Secret Sid the Sloth comparison became a way for people to process the "unconventional beauty" movement. It’s about the "hot-ugly" or "beautiful-weird" spectrum.
Is it Bullying or Just a Trend?
This is where things get sticky. If you go on Twitter (X), you'll see people posting photos of models like Kelly Gale or even veterans like Gemma Ward with captions about Ice Age. Some people find it hilarious. Others think it’s a cruel way to tear down women who are just doing their jobs.
The truth? It’s probably a bit of both.
Fashion has always been about the "atypical." In the 90s, it was "heroin chic." In the 2000s, it was the "doll face." By the time the Victoria's Secret Sid the Sloth meme peaked, the industry was looking for something that didn't look like a Barbie doll. They wanted "editorial." They wanted faces that you couldn't stop looking at because they felt slightly... off.
📖 Related: Is there actually a legal age to stay home alone? What parents need to know
The Biology of the Aesthetic
Let’s talk about the actual look for a second. There’s a term for this in the industry: "The Alien Look."
- Hypertelorism: This is the actual medical term for having an abnormally large distance between the eyes. While the models don't usually have the medical condition, the industry mimics this look through makeup and casting. It creates a gaze that feels like it’s looking through you.
- The High Brow: A lot of these models have very high, arched brows that emphasize the forehead space.
- The Receding Chin vs. Strong Jaw: Sid has a very specific mouth-forward look. In modeling, a "pouty" lower lip combined with a sharp jawline creates a similar profile.
When you combine these, you get a face that works incredibly well under harsh runway lights but looks "sloth-like" in a zoomed-in, low-res meme. It’s a fascinating study in how lighting and context change our perception of beauty.
The Victoria’s Secret Rebrand Connection
It’s interesting that Victoria’s Secret is the brand tied to this. For years, VS was the bastion of "standard" bombshell beauty. Big hair, tan skin, blue eyes. But as they struggled with declining sales and a lack of diversity, they started casting more "high fashion" faces. They moved away from the Adriana Lima look and toward the "Editorial Weird" look.
This transition happened right when meme culture was exploding. So, when a model with a very unique, wide-eyed face walked the runway in giant wings, the internet didn't see a "bombshell." They saw Sid. And they posted it.
The Victoria's Secret Sid the Sloth tag isn't just about one person. It’s about the brand's attempt to be "cool" and "high fashion" instead of just "sexy."
The Models Who Get Categorized
You can’t talk about this without mentioning the specific faces that get brought up. Often, it’s the models who have a lot of "character" in their faces.
- Kelly Gale: She’s often the primary target of these memes. She’s stunning, obviously. But she has that specific wide-eyed, high-cheekboned look that the internet loves to compare to Sid.
- Gemma Ward: The OG of the "alien" look. She paved the way for this aesthetic long before the meme existed.
- Daphne Groeneveld: Another high-fashion favorite whose features are often called "sloth-adjacent" by the darker corners of the web.
The irony is that these features make them incredibly successful. In a sea of "pretty" girls, the "Sid" look stands out. It sells clothes. It grabs attention. It’s the reason they’re on the runway in the first place.
👉 See also: The Long Haired Russian Cat Explained: Why the Siberian is Basically a Living Legend
Why the Meme Persists in 2026
You'd think we'd be over this by now. But we aren't. Why? Because the "uncanny valley" of beauty is still the most interesting thing in fashion. We are currently seeing a massive surge in "natural" but "weird" features. With the decline of heavy "Instagram Face" (the over-filled lips and fox-eye lifts), people are craving faces that look like they belong to a specific person—or a specific sloth.
The Victoria's Secret Sid the Sloth comparison is basically a shorthand for "beauty that makes me feel slightly uncomfortable but I can't look away." It’s a weird compliment wrapped in a joke.
The Impact on Self-Image
If you have wide-set eyes, seeing these memes can be a trip. On one hand, you're being compared to a cartoon character who lives in a cave. On the other hand, you're being told you look like a Victoria’s Secret model.
It’s a weird dichotomy. Honestly, it shows how fickle beauty standards are. One year, your features are a "flaw" in a cartoon; the next year, they're the reason a scout signs you to a seven-figure contract in Paris.
Breaking Down the Viral Moments
There was one specific video—you might remember it—where a model was doing a "walk" in a fitting, and the comments were just 100% sloth emojis. It didn't matter how expensive the clothes were. The internet had spoken.
This happens because the internet loves to "humanize" (or "dehumanize") the untouchable. Victoria's Secret models were seen as these perfect, ethereal beings. Comparing them to Sid the Sloth is a way for the general public to say, "See? They’re just as weird-looking as the rest of us." It’s a leveling of the playing field.
What We Get Wrong About the Comparison
Most people think the Victoria's Secret Sid the Sloth meme is meant to say the models are ugly. It’s actually the opposite. It’s an acknowledgment of a "high-tier" beauty trait.
✨ Don't miss: Why Every Mom and Daughter Photo You Take Actually Matters
In the modeling world, "pretty" is a dime a dozen. "Striking" is rare. Being "Sid-coded" means you have features that are mathematically rare. The distance between your pupils is literally a genetic lottery win for high-fashion photography.
How to Lean Into the Aesthetic
If you’re someone who actually has these features, the "Sid" look is actually a major trend right now. Here’s how the pros handle it:
- Focus on the Brows: High-fashion models with wide-set eyes usually keep their brows very groomed and lifted. This opens up the face even more.
- Minimalist Eye Makeup: Instead of trying to "correct" the distance with heavy liner, they often use light, shimmering shadows to lean into the ethereal look.
- The "Dead" Eye: It’s a technique. If you have wide-set eyes, looking slightly off-camera creates a dreamy, "high-fashion" vibe that narrow-set eyes can't pull off.
Practical Insights for the Fashion-Obsessed
If you’re trying to understand why this matters for your own style or how you view fashion, look at the evolution of the Victoria's Secret brand. They’ve moved from "perfection" to "personality."
- Embrace the "Flaw": The very thing people make memes about is the thing that makes these models rich. If you have a feature that people comment on, it’s probably your most valuable asset.
- Context is Everything: A "Sid the Sloth" face in a grocery store is just a unique face. Put that same face in a $10,000 gown with professional lighting, and it’s "the next big thing."
- Ignore the Mean Spirits: Memes are meant to be fast and cheap. High-fashion careers are built on being memorable.
The Victoria's Secret Sid the Sloth saga is just another chapter in the long history of humans being fascinated by the "unusual." Whether you think it’s funny or mean, it has defined an era of casting. It’s the reason why the runways look the way they do today.
Next time you see a model with eyes that seem to see into two different time zones, don't just think of Ice Age. Think of the fact that her "weirdness" is her superpower. The industry doesn't want boring. It wants Sid.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit Your Feed: Take a look at the models you follow. Are they "classic" pretty or "Sid" pretty? Notice how the "Sid" types tend to land more high-end editorial work.
- Try the Makeup: If you have wide-set eyes, experiment with "negative space" liner. It’s a huge 2026 trend that celebrates the gap rather than hiding it.
- Research Gemma Ward: If you want to see where this look started, look up her 2004-2005 runway shows. It puts the whole "Sid the Sloth" meme into a much more professional, artistic perspective.