The Brief: The Photogenic Challenge on TikTok calls for creators to take random photos of themselves to determine if they are photogenic or not.

Bluesquiggle
DEEP DIVE

TikTokers are testing their photogenic abilities by taking candid photos of themselves while dancing to “Wrap Me In Plastic” by Chromance. These videos began growing in popularity in early September 2020. There are over 4.3 million videos linked to the audio on TikTok.

Lyrics:

So wrap me in plastic, and make me shine
We can make a dollhouse, follow your design
Let’s build a dog out of sticks and twine
I can call you master, you can call me mine

The trend is typically marked by creators snapping three black and white photos, candidly, while using TikTok’s “Freeze Frame” effect. @Itsjustaba’s video received over 2.3 million likes and 21.1 million views.

@itsjuztaba

omg I hate my side profile LOL 🙈🙈 #fyp #abasangels

♬ Wrap Me In Plastic (Slowed Down Version) – CHROMANCE & Marcus Layton

@OKCzoo also hopped on the trend. Pearly  the sea lion provided three adorable photos and garnered over 2.2 million likes and 8.6 million views.

@okczoo

So so’fish’ticated 💙 Pearly wins the photogenicchallenge! #TodayILearned #sealion #pearlywhites #animalstok

♬ CHROMANCE – Wrap Me In Plastic – vashamarousia

While the trend calls for creators to take photos at random, some looked overly posed. TikTok @unblac.k.ai’s video poked fun at those creators. His video amassed over 649,000 likes and 2.4 million views.

@unbloc.k.ai

This is what y’all look like making those videos

♬ CHROMANCE – Wrap Me In Plastic – vashamarousia

Other takes:

@bellapoarch

I do not know how to use this filter😂 and I ate my hair doing this sooo….

♬ CHROMANCE – Wrap Me In Plastic – vashamarousia

@josh_herbert

The end lol #FreezeFramePhoto #husbandwife #couplegoals #wife #fyp #foryou #newtrend #trend #4u #couple #relationship #dog #pet @abbieherbert_

♬ CHROMANCE – Wrap Me In Plastic – vashamarousia