Upworthy's book GOOD PEOPLE, now available - take a look!

Shop
 Explore 

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.

Family

30 best collagen supplements for pregnancy

If you’re looking for the perfect Mother's Day gifts for the incredible moms in your life, we've got you covered.

Smiling pregnant woman in a hat outdoors, touching her belly.

Editor's Note: Upworthy earns a percentage of revenue from items purchased on this list.

In the journey of pregnancy, maintaining optimal health is of paramount importance, and collagen supplements have emerged as potential allies in promoting overall well-being for both the expectant mother and the developing fetus. With maternal bodily changes in mind, we explore a curated selection of the 30 best collagen supplements tailored to support the unique requirements of pregnancy. Recent research underscores the significance of collagen in enhancing skin elasticity, a crucial consideration as 95% of women experience some degree of skin stretching during pregnancy, while the protein's role in fortifying joints gains prominence given that up to 75% of pregnant women report musculoskeletal discomfort.

30 best collagen supplements for pregnancy

Elm & Rye Collagen Supplements

If you're pregnant, you might be wondering if you should be taking any additional supplements to support the health of you and your growing baby. Collagen supplements are a great option for expecting mothers as they not only help support healthy skin, hair, and nails but also aid in joint and bone health. Elm & Rye's collagen supplements are formulated specifically for pregnancy, using high-quality ingredients like grass-fed bovine collagen and vitamin C to ensure optimal nutrient absorption. Additionally, their supplements are flavorless, making them easy to add to your favorite drinks or food without any added fuss. With Elm & Rye's collagen supplements, you can feel confident in supporting your body during this exciting phase of life.

Mindbodygreen Beauty & Gut Collagen+ Powder

Collagen supplements have become an increasingly popular way to support skin, hair, and nail health. While many people turn to collagen supplements for their beauty benefits, they can also play an important role in supporting gut health. Mindbodygreen's Beauty & Gut Collagen+ Powder is one example of a product that offers both beauty and gut health benefits. This collagen supplement is made with grass-fed bovine collagen and also includes prebiotics and probiotics for digestive support. For pregnant individuals, collagen supplements may be especially beneficial for skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of stretch marks. It's always important to check with a healthcare provider before adding any new supplements to your routine, especially during pregnancy.

PROTIVA Nurture Pregnancy Collagen Powder for Women

As women grow and nurture a life inside of them during pregnancy, their bodies undergo significant changes, which can take a toll on their skin. This is where PROTIVA Nurture Pregnancy Collagen Powder for Women comes into play. Finding collagen supplements for pregnancy can be essential for women who want to maintain healthy, radiant skin throughout their pregnancy journey. This powder delivers essential nutrients like collagen Type I, III, and IV, prebiotics, and probiotics, making it an all-in-one option for pregnant women. The powder is also tested and approved by OB-GYN doctors and does not contain any synthetic dyes, artificial flavors, or sweeteners. With PROTIVA Nurture Pregnancy Collagen Powder for Women, pregnant women can nourish their skin, while also nourishing their growing babies from the inside out.

Needed. Expertly-Formulated & Tested Prenatal Hydrolyzed Collagen Protein Powder

Expecting mothers are constantly searching for the right supplements to support the growth and development of their babies. Now, there is a new player in town for the health and wellness of mother and baby – expertly formulated prenatal hydrolyzed collagen protein powder. This supplement is specially designed to support pregnant and breastfeeding mothers with essential nutrients and protein, and with hydrolyzed collagen, the protein absorption rate is increased for maximum benefits. This collagen supplement for pregnancy has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it meets the highest standards of quality and safety. Not only does it promote a healthy pregnancy, but it also supports postpartum recovery. Say goodbye to the guesswork and give your baby the best with prenatal hydrolyzed collagen protein powder.

Biomeology Prenatal Collagen Peptides

Pregnancy is an incredibly important time in a woman's life, and taking care of her body is more critical than ever. That's where collagen supplements for pregnancy come in. Biomeology's prenatal collagen peptides have been specially formulated to provide essential nutrients for both mother and baby during this crucial time. Collagen is a vital protein that helps support healthy skin, nails, hair, and joints, so it's no surprise that it's also beneficial during pregnancy. These supplements are high in amino acids that are essential for fetal development, making them an excellent choice for expectant mothers looking to support their growing baby's health. Whether you're struggling with skin elasticity or joint pain during pregnancy, Biomeology's prenatal collagen peptides are a fantastic way to give your body the nutrients it needs to thrive.

Beli Prenatal Collagen

As an expectant mother, taking care of yourself and your growing baby is of utmost importance. One way to support your body during pregnancy is through the use of collagen supplements designed specifically for this special time. Beli Prenatal Collagen is a great option for women looking to enhance the health and appearance of their hair, skin, nails, and joints while also helping to promote healthy fetal development. This unique formula contains key nutrients like zinc, biotin, and folic acid, as well as collagen peptides, to support overall wellness during pregnancy. By simply adding Beli Prenatal Collagen to your daily routine, you can feel confident that you're giving yourself and your baby the best possible chance for a healthy and happy pregnancy.

Spoiled Child, Liquid Collagen, Extra Strength

Collagen supplements are a popular way to keep your skin looking young and smooth. But did you know that they can also benefit pregnant women? Many collagen supplements, such as those made with liquid collagen, come in extra-strength formulas that can provide the necessary nutrients for healthy skin during pregnancy. While some may worry that taking collagen supplements could cause a spoiled child, there is no evidence to suggest that this is the case. In fact, these supplements have been linked to reduced stretch marks and improved skin elasticity in pregnant women. Consider adding collagen supplements to your daily routine for a healthy and glowing pregnancy.

Garden of Life Grass Fed Collagen Peptides

Collagen supplements are becoming increasingly popular due to their numerous health benefits. Garden of Life’s Grass Fed Collagen Peptides is a top-rated supplement that has gained immense popularity among health enthusiasts. This product is made from premium quality, grass-fed bovine collagen, which makes it a perfect fit for those conscious about their food sources. One of the best things about this supplement is that it can also be used during pregnancy. The added collagen helps increase the body's protein supply, which is essential during this critical stage. Additionally, it helps maintain the elasticity of the skin, which can help prevent stretch marks. So, with Garden of Life’s Grass Fed Collagen Peptides, you can enjoy a healthier, better-looking body during pregnancy.

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder

Collagen supplements have become increasingly popular over the years, with many people heralding the benefits of incorporating them into their diets. However, pregnant women may be wondering if it is safe to take collagen supplements during this special time. The answer is yes, and in fact, it may even be beneficial. Collagen peptide powder, like Vital Proteins' formula, can provide the necessary amino acids to support the maintenance and growth of a healthy pregnancy. Specifically, it can aid in the development of the growing fetus's skin, joints, and bones. It also has potential benefits for the mother's health, such as improving skin elasticity and reducing joint pain. Overall, adding collagen peptide powder to a healthy and balanced diet may provide added benefits during pregnancy.

Health Revolution Multi Collagen Peptides Powder

Collagen supplements have been on the rise as more and more people seek to improve their overall health. The Health Revolution Multi Collagen Peptides Powder is a supplement that has stood out amongst the rest for its various benefits. This collagen powder is comprised of five types of collagen - Types I, II, III, V, and X - which work together to promote healthy joints, skin, hair, nails, and gut. While most people may take collagen supplements for general health benefits, pregnant women may find this supplement particularly helpful as it can help support healthy fetal development. With its multitude of benefits, the Health Revolution Multi Collagen Peptides Powder is an excellent addition to any wellness routine.

BioOptimal Collagen Powder

Collagen is a vital protein in the body, responsible for the elasticity of skin, cartilage, and other connective tissues. During pregnancy, women require higher levels of collagen to support the growing fetus, but it can be difficult to obtain enough from diet alone. That's where BioOptimal Collagen Powder comes in. This supplement is specially formulated to support healthy skin, hair, nails, and joints, making it an excellent choice for pregnant women who want to support their body's natural collagen production. With its high-quality, grass-fed collagen peptides and easy-to-use formula, BioOptimal Collagen Powder is a great way to ensure you're getting the nutrients you need during this important time in your life.

DR EMIL NUTRITION Multi Collagen Pills

Collagen supplements have been increasing in popularity over the past few years due to their potential benefits for skin health, joint health, and more. For pregnant women, collagen supplements may offer additional benefits for both the mother and the baby. DR EMIL NUTRITION's Multi Collagen Pills provide a convenient and effective option for those looking to supplement their diet with collagen during pregnancy. Collagen is a key component of the skin, bones, and connective tissues, which are crucial for both the growing baby and the mother's body. By incorporating collagen supplements into their daily routine, pregnant women may support their overall health and wellness, and potentially ease some common pregnancy discomforts. With DR EMIL NUTRITION's Multi Collagen Pills, you can rest assured that you are providing your body with high-quality collagen from a reliable source.

FORTE NATURALS Collagen Peptide Pills

Pregnancy is a time of immense joy and excitement, but it can also be challenging for some women. One common issue during pregnancy is the depletion of collagen in the body, which may lead to various health complications. Thankfully, there are collagen supplements available that can help expecting mothers maintain healthy levels of this essential protein. FORTE NATURALS Collagen Peptide Pills are a great option for women looking to boost their collagen intake during pregnancy. Made from high-quality marine collagen, these pills are easily absorbed by the body, providing a wide range of benefits, from improving skin elasticity to supporting joint health. With FORTE NATURALS Collagen Peptide Pills, pregnant women can rest assured that they are getting the nutrients they need to stay healthy and feel their best.

Vital Vitamins Multi Collagen Complex

Collagen is a critical type of protein found in various parts of the human body. When it comes to pregnancy, collagen plays a crucial role in the development and growth of the placenta, the organ that nourishes the unborn baby. Vital Vitamins Multi Collagen Complex is a product designed to help women enhance their collagen levels during pregnancy. This supplement is made of high-quality ingredients, including collagen from four sources, which provides essential amino acids necessary for the body to produce collagen on its own. Collagen supplements for pregnancy are becoming more popular because of the numerous benefits they offer, including better skin elasticity and smoother joint movements. With Vital Vitamins Multi Collagen Complex, women can support their health and their baby's development, making their pregnancy journey more comfortable and enjoyable.

Codeage Multi Collagen + Gut Blend Supplement

Collagen supplements have become increasingly popular in recent times, and for good reason. The benefits of collagen are vast and include promoting healthy hair, skin, nails, and, most importantly, supporting your gut health. Collagen supplements like Codeage Multi Collagen + Gut Blend Supplement take it one step further by incorporating a gut-healthy blend that includes probiotics and prebiotics. These supplements are not just for fitness enthusiasts or beauty mavens; they are especially useful for pregnant women. Studies show that collagen supplements for pregnancy can help to reduce stretch marks and improve skin elasticity postpartum. Additionally, many expecting mothers experience digestive issues during pregnancy, and these collagen supplements can promote overall gut health, which can aid in digestion. In short, Codeage Multi Collagen + Gut Blend Supplement is a perfect choice for anyone looking for a comprehensive supplement to support their health while navigating pregnancy.

OPTIWIZE Collagen Plus

Collagen supplements have become increasingly popular among pregnant women looking to boost their skin's health and overall well-being. OPTIWIZE's Collagen Plus is an excellent option for expecting mothers seeking high-quality collagen supplementation. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is responsible for keeping our connective tissues healthy and strong. The addition of collagen supplements to a pregnancy diet can improve skin elasticity, promote joint health, and support healthy hair and nails. OPTIWIZE's Collagen Plus contains hydrolyzed collagen peptides, making it quick and easy for the body to absorb. Additionally, this product is non-GMO, gluten-free, and does not contain any artificial flavors or preservatives. Trust OPTIWIZE Collagen Plus to provide exceptional support during your pregnancy journey.

Like Mine Marine Collagen

Collagen supplements such as Like Mine Marine Collagen have become increasingly popular in recent years for their potential health benefits. Among them, pregnant women can benefit from collagen supplements, which can provide the nutritional support needed during pregnancy. Collagen supplements for pregnancy can help support skin elasticity, and joint health, and promote healthy hair and nails. Like Mine Marine Collagen is a premium source of marine collagen that is sustainably sourced from wild-caught fish, making it a safe and reliable option for expectant mothers. Incorporating Like Mine Marine Collagen into one's pregnancy routine can help support both physical and mental health during this transformative time.

Nature Made Collagen Gummies with Vitamin C, Zinc and Biotin

Nature Made Collagen Gummies with Vitamin C, Zinc, and Biotin offer a convenient way to nourish your body and promote healthy skin, hair, and nails. Collagen supplements have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and plays a vital role in maintaining healthy skin elasticity, bone strength, and joint mobility. For expectant mothers, collagen supplements for pregnancy may also provide added benefits. Vitamin C, zinc, and biotin found in these gummies may help support a healthy immune system and promote healthy pregnancy outcomes. Whether you're looking to support your pregnancy or simply enhance your overall health, Nature Made Collagen Gummies can help you reach your goals.

Physician's CHOICE Collagen Peptides Powder w/ Digestive Enzymes

Collagen supplements have been gaining popularity in recent years due to their numerous benefits for the skin, joints, and muscles. However, what many people don't know is that collagen supplements can also be incredibly beneficial during pregnancy. Physician's CHOICE Collagen Peptides Powder w/ Digestive Enzymes is a perfect option for pregnant women who want to support their own health as well as the development of their baby. Collagen peptides provide the amino acids that are essential for healthy fetal development, while the digestive enzymes in the powder help to ensure proper nutrient absorption. This supplement is a safe and easy way for expecting mothers to support their bodies and promote optimal health.

Rae Wellness Vegan Collagen Boost Powder

Collagen supplements have been growing in popularity in recent years, with people of all ages and backgrounds looking for ways to improve their skin, hair, and overall health. But as more and more women turn to collagen to support healthy pregnancies, the demand for safe and effective collagen supplements for pregnancy has increased. Rae Wellness Vegan Collagen Boost Powder is one option that many women are turning to. Made with plant-based ingredients like amla fruit and bamboo extract, this collagen powder provides a natural boost to collagen production that can support healthy skin, hair, and nails during pregnancy. And since it's vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO, it's a safe and healthy choice for both mother and baby. If you're looking for a collagen supplement to support a healthy pregnancy, Rae Wellness Vegan Collagen Boost Powder might be just what you need.

ELMNT Super Collagen Burn

Are you pregnant and looking for a collagen supplement to support your body during this special time? Look no further than ELMNT Super Collagen Burn. This collagen powder is designed to provide support for healthy hair, skin, and nails, while also promoting weight loss and fat burning. Made with hydrolyzed collagen peptides, ELMNT Super Collagen Burn is easily absorbed by the body, making it a highly effective supplement for anyone seeking to enhance their overall health and wellness. Plus, with no artificial fillers or additives, you can feel good about making this product a part of your daily routine during your pregnancy and beyond.

NeoCell Collagen, Vitamin C & Biotin Supplement, Beauty Builder

Collagen supplements are becoming increasingly popular for those looking to support healthy skin, hair, and nails. However, many women wonder if collagen supplements are safe to take during pregnancy. The good news is that NeoCell Collagen, Vitamin C & Biotin Supplement, Beauty Builder is formulated with non-GMO, gluten-free, and soy-free ingredients, making it a safe choice for expectant mothers. This unique blend contains 6,000mg of collagen with biotin and vitamin C, which work together to support healthy hair, skin, and nails. So, if you're looking for a beauty supplement that's safe to take during pregnancy, NeoCell Collagen, Vitamin C & Biotin Supplement, Beauty Builder may be just what you need.

Caribou Nutrition Multi Collagen Pills

If you're looking for a reliable source of collagen supplements during your pregnancy, Caribou Nutrition Multi Collagen Pills may just be the answer you're looking for. Collagen is a crucial protein that our bodies need to maintain healthy skin, hair, and nails. During pregnancy, our body's collagen needs increase due to the growth and development of the baby. These collagen supplements from Caribou Nutrition are packed with a variety of collagen types that are essential for supporting healthy joints, bones, and tendons. They are also free of any harmful chemicals or additives, making them safe for pregnant women to consume. Incorporating these multi-collagen pills into your diet may help ensure that both you and your baby are getting the necessary nutrients for optimal health during pregnancy.

Youtheory Collagen with Vitamin C

Collagen supplements have grown in popularity over the past few years due to the many benefits they offer, especially for pregnant women. One supplement that stands out is Youtheory Collagen with Vitamin C. This highly absorbable supplement provides essential support for mother and baby during pregnancy. Collagen helps maintain skin elasticity, which is especially important for women as their skin stretches to accommodate a growing baby. Additionally, collagen supports healthy bones and joints, which can become strained during pregnancy. Vitamin C further adds to the benefits of collagen, aiding in the absorption of the supplement and supporting the immune system. With Youtheory Collagen with Vitamin C, pregnant women can feel confident that they are getting the support they need for a healthy pregnancy.

Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Living Collagen Nutritional Powder

Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Living Collagen Nutritional Powder is a popular choice when it comes to collagen supplements. It is made from grass-fed cows and contains a diverse array of nutrients such as collagen, connective tissue, minerals, and glycine. These nutrients are essential for maintaining healthy skin, bones, and joints. In addition, this nutritional powder is perfect for pregnant women who want to incorporate collagen supplements into their diet. Collagen supplements for pregnancy are extremely important because they help support the growth and development of the baby. So, if you're looking for a collagen supplement that is both nutritious and delicious, look no further than Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Living Collagen Nutritional Powder.

Live Conscious Collagen Peptides Powder

Collagen supplements have been growing in popularity in recent years due to their potential benefits for skin, hair, and joint health. For pregnant women, the use of collagen supplements can provide additional nutritional support for both the mother and developing child. Live Conscious Collagen Peptides Powder is one option that is specifically formulated to be clean, pure, and easy to digest. This collagen powder is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen, with no added sugars, preservatives, or artificial flavors. It is also gluten-free, soy-free, and non-GMO, making it a safe choice for women who are expecting. Adding Live Conscious Collagen Peptides Powder to your daily routine can help support optimum collagen levels during pregnancy and promote overall health and wellness.

NeoCell Super Collagen Powder

Collagen supplements have been growing in popularity over the past few years, and for good reason. The benefits of collagen for the body span far and wide, from promoting healthy hair and nails to improving joint health. For pregnant women, collagen supplements can also play a role in supporting the growing baby. NeoCell Super Collagen Powder is a popular option for those looking to boost their collagen intake. This powder is made from hydrolyzed collagen peptides, which are easily absorbed by the body. While there isn't much research into the safety of collagen supplements during pregnancy, many women have reported positive results from using NeoCell Super Collagen Powder during this time. As always, it's best to consult with your doctor before starting any new supplement regimen while pregnant.

ForestLeaf - Collagen Pills with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C

Collagen supplements are gaining momentum in the wellness industry. One popular brand, ForestLeaf, offers collagen pills with added hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. These supplements claim to help improve the overall health and appearance of skin, hair, and nails. But where does that leave expecting mothers? Many people are turning to collagen supplements for pregnancy, as studies have shown that regular collagen intake can improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. However, it's important to note that not all collagen supplements are safe for pregnancy, so it's important to consult with a medical professional before adding any new supplements to your regimen.

MaryRuth's Collagen Boosting Gummy for Hair Skin & Nails

Collagen-boosting supplements have been around for a while, and they’ve seen a steady rise in popularity over the years. One particular brand that has made waves in the supplement world is MaryRuth’s Collagen Boosting Gummy for Hair Skin & Nails. These gummies are packed with carefully selected ingredients that help support healthy hair, skin, and nails. But did you know that these gummies can also be a great addition to a pregnant woman’s diet? Collagen supplements for pregnancy have become increasingly popular due to their potential benefits for both the mother and the developing baby. MaryRuth’s Collagen Boosting Gummy can help support healthy skin elasticity, provide nourishment for hair, and help strengthen nails, all of which can suffer during pregnancy. As with any supplement, it’s important to consult with your doctor before adding it to your regimen.

Sanar Naturals Collagen Pills with Vitamin C, E

As women navigate pregnancy, they often wonder what products they should and shouldn't use to support their growing baby and maintain their own health. One supplement that has recently gained popularity among pregnant women is Sanar Naturals Collagen Pills with Vitamin C, and E. Collagen supplements are praised for their ability to support healthy skin, hair, and nails, but they also provide essential proteins for bone and joint health. The addition of Vitamin C and E enhances the absorption of collagen, allowing the body to reap the maximum benefits. These collagen pills are a natural way to support overall health during pregnancy without any harsh chemicals or additives. As with any supplement, it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider before incorporating it into your routine.

As the curtain draws on our exploration of the 30 best collagen supplements for pregnancy, it is evident that these meticulously chosen options offer not only potential benefits for skin elasticity, addressing the 95% of pregnant women experiencing skin stretching but also hold promise in mitigating musculoskeletal discomfort, a concern reported by up to 75% of expectant mothers. Navigating the realm of pregnancy requires well-informed choices, and while these collagen supplements can play a supportive role, it's imperative to consult with healthcare providers before incorporating any new elements into the journey of prenatal care.

From Your Site Articles

affiliate

All In

Craveable snacks. Quality organic ingredients. Positive community impact.

5 ways people are going "All In" this week

From the silly to the sentimental, there are so many ways people like to go “all in” on something. Here are our five favorite examples this week.

True

When you hear the words “all in,” what do you think? You might picture a color-coordinated, fairy-themed surprise proposal that took months to create, or maybe you think of a singer who went on stage and nailed the perfect high note in front of everyone (like this girl). Whatever you picture, the idea is the same: Going “all in” means doing something with total commitment—literally giving it your “all” and going completely over the top. No second guessing, no holding back—just full-throttle enthusiasm with some creativity and flair thrown in. That’s how we get those viral internet moments we can’t stop watching.

When people decide to go “all in,” something special usually happens as a result, and we’re here to show you how. This week, we’ve found the very best examples of people going “all in” across the Internet—moments where passion, creativity, and commitment take center stage. Follow along and feel inspired.

Hamilton superfans

@itz.unique POV: You seen Hamilton the first night in theaters #hamiltonmusical #fyp #relatable #hamilton ♬ original sound - Uniii 😜

You already know we love a good Hamilton reenactment. This past weekend, though, Hamilton fans took their love for the musical to a whole other level. As theatres released the filmed stage production in honor of the musical’s tenth anniversary on Broadway, theatre kids everywhere showed up in costume and belted out every single word (it’s okay to sing in the theatre this time, by the way! Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda totally said we could). Some theatres sang along quietly, some chimed in loudly at the emotional parts, and some theatres truly went all in, staging elaborate reproductions of the scenes in the aisles, in time with the music. A bunch of theatre kids totally nerding out together, having fun, and celebrating good art? We love to see it.

Everyone's love of Pumpkin Spice Lattes

@deangelodbyrd It’s hereeee 😂🍂 #pumpkinspicelatte #fall2025 #funnyvideo #silly #funnydance @Starbucks ♬ original sound - DeAngelo

You know it's fall when you start seeing those plastic cups everywhere. That's right—it's Pumpkin Spice Latte season. Everyone is drinking them. Everyone is posting about them. Everyone is figuring out the perfect PSL pairing, whether that's pumpkin spice matcha lattes or just drinking a PSL curled up on the couch watching some spooky movies. (How about all of the above?)

Here's our recommendation: Pumpkin spice lattes pair perfectly with All In snack bars—specifically the Madagascar Vanilla + Almond option. It's got honey, it's got pumpkin seeds, and it's even got tons of fiber so you're getting some nutrition along with all the deliciousness. Don't take our word for it, though: Click here to try it yourself (for free).

This rendition of the Happy Birthday song

@kamoramakaylee Happy 84th birthday to our dad #tbt ♬ original sound - Kamora

There’s singing the Happy Birthday song, and then there’s singing the Happy Birthday song. This group of sisters did the latter. For their father’s birthday, they presented him with a cake (aww) and then launched into an embellished musical production of the last two lines that would put Whitney Houston to shame. The girls truly went all in, but perhaps the best part of this entire video is their dad,sitting wide-eyed at the table and gritting his teeth until the performance is over. (“He’s fine,” someone said in the comments section. “He lost his hearing ten birthdays ago.”)

Llama costumes

@kristeninmn Some of the costumes from the Minnesota State Fair’s 4-H Llama-Alpaca Costume Contest! #minnesotastatefair #mnstatefair #exploremn #onlyinmn #stpaulminnesota ♬ Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra

Every year at the Minnesota State Fair, the 4-H Llama-Alpaca Costume Contest steals the show. In it, participants dress their llamas in wildly imaginative costumes—everything from a sea anemone to a bucket of popcorn to Buzz Lightyear from the movie Toy Story—and transform the livestock barn into a whimsical runway. Every glittery cape, hand-painted prop, or themed outfit is a testament to their creativity, their time and effort, and most importantly their love for animals. All of it is on full display and it’s seriously impressive work. You can tell when it comes to their animals (and creativity), Minnesotans don’t hold back.

This dog who's totally faking it.

@binkythechichi2
The king of drama
♬ original sound - cass

Okay, you have to give this guy some respect—he really doesn’t want his owner to go to work and he’s found an absolutely genius way of showing it. As soon as her alarm goes off in the morning, TikTok creator Cassidy Butler shared that her chihuahua Binky runs to the front door and actually starts faking injuries to get her to stay home with him (and sometimes, she admits, it works). Binky is absolutely committed, holding up his paw as though it were injured, plus shivering and even squinting one eye to show just how injured he is. He’s almost perfectly convincing—until Cassidy offers to take him outside to play and he momentarily breaks character. Oops! Still, we respect his dedication to the craft.

Snag your free (!!) snack bars here while this deal lasts. Just pick up a box at Sprouts and text a pic of your receipt to get it for free. Enoy!

From Your Site Articles

Culture

A hundred years ago, everyone wore hats. In 1960, they suddenly stopped. Here's why.

Old footage from the '50s shows men, women, and children wearing hats everywhere they go.

via Warmbru Curiosity/YouTube

When did everyone stop wearing hats?

It was everywhere. Men, women, and even children did it every time they left the house. If you see old newsreel footage of men in the office or on commuter trains from the advent of the motion picture camera to the early ‘60s, nearly everyone is wearing a hat. Hats were just as common for women in that era. For a woman to go out without a hat in the first half of the 20th century was akin to going out without clothes.

The funny thing is that everyone’s headgear is so similar in the old-timey footage that it makes previous generations look like big-time conformists. Then, in the early ‘60s, everything changed, and men and women started to go out in public with their hair exposed. Why did such a big aspect of fashion seem to change overnight?

Warmbru Curiosity investigated the question recently in a popular YouTube video. Warmbru’s channel is a lighthearted look at some of the more unusual people and events from our history and how they have influenced the world in which we live.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Why did people stop wearing hats?

Warmbru says fashion changed dramatically after World War II, when people in developed countries began to care less about expressing their social status. “This was especially true among the younger generation the rise of youth culture in the 1950s and 1960s emphasized rebellion against traditional norms, including formal dress codes,” the YouTuber says.

Mad Men, Don Draper, Jon Hamm, hats, mens fashion, men's hats, 1950s Don Draper from AMC's "Mad Men" Image via "Mad Men" AMC

Another big reason for the change in fashion was technology. Cars became the preferred mode of transportation for many after World War II and indoor environments became more hospitable. “People spent far less time exposed to the elements as people increasingly moved to urban areas and started using cars,” Warmbru says. “The practicality of wearing hats diminishes. Hats can be cumbersome in cars and on public transport, improvements in heating and air conditioning reduce the need for hats to provide warmth.”

Warmbru adds that President John F. Kennedy, elected in 1960, rarely wore a hat and his decision to go bareheaded became associated with modernity. Further, in 1963, the mop-topped Beatles proudly flaunted their hatless heads as they shook them while singing, “Wooooo.” Hat-wearing among women began to decline around the same time as the restrictive and complex headgear clashed with the burgeoning women’s liberation movement.

Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, hats, men, men's fashion, 1960's, 1950's John F. Kennedy with his family Image via Wikicommons

The decline in hat purchases meant that manufacturers closed and the headgear became harder to come by. This reduced availability further contributed to the decline in hat-wearing. As fewer people wore hats, there became a greater demand for high-quality hair products and services. “Why spend a fortune at the hairdressers or the barbers just to cover the end result with a hat?” Warmbru asks.

Ultimately, there were many reasons why people stopped wearing hats. It appears that it was a combination of technology, influential people such as Kennedy and The Beatles, and the overwhelming mood of change that swept most of the Western world in the 1960s. But if one thing is true about fashion, it goes in cycles. So, it seems that hats may be ready for their big comeback.

This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.

From Your Site Articles

men

Levi Strauss Foundation

The Levi Strauss Foundation advances the human rights and well-being of underserved people in places where the company has a business presence

Community

How humanitarian parole programs help migrant families in crisis

Through her work as a humanitarian parole sponsor, Sandra McAnany has helped uplift more than a dozen Latin American migrants and changed lives in the process.

Sandra visiting E’s family in Georgia (2023)

True

Sandra McAnany isn’t one to sit on the sidelines. A 58-year-old grandmother from Wisconsin, McAnany spends her days teaching soft skills classes to adults and spending time with her family. Outside the classroom, however, she’s taken on a role that’s helping people in a big way: serving as a humanitarian parole sponsor and personally taking on the financial responsibility of supporting families fleeing from persecution, violence, and instability.

Since 2023, McAnany has welcomed 17 migrants—11 adults and six children through the CHNV humanitarian parole program, which allows individuals and families from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to live and work temporarily in the United States with the support of an approved sponsor.

“Everyone has their own views and perspectives, but every person I sponsored is thriving and doing well here,” McAnany said.

McAnany didn’t know any of the parolees before sponsoring them, but she had a commitment to helping families from Venezuela specifically, hoping to reunite them with their families who were already living in the United States. After “praying a lot along the way” and communicating with the applicants through WhatsApp, she decided to apply as a sponsor and help them settle into the United States.

“I have a bedroom and a bathroom in my basement,” McAnany says. “My door is open and will always be open for any of the people I sponsored, if they ever have a need for housing.”

Sandra’s granddaughter, E’s daughter, and another friend at an indoor park (July 2025)

At the time, McAnany decided to volunteer as a sponsor to make friends and help other people through hardship. Now, her mission has grown: Seeing how humanitarian parole programs have changed her parole beneficiaries’ lives—as well as her own—for the better.

Humanitarian parole: A long history

Humanitarian parole programs are nothing new. Since 1952, both Democratic and Republican administrations have used humanitarian parole to provide a safer, lawful pathway for noncitizens to enter and live temporarily in the United States. In recent years, through different programs, people from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti, and other countries have been able to come to the U.S. to escape urgent crises in their own countries, such as political instability or war.

Coming to the United States through humanitarian parole is no easy feat. The process has its own strict criteria and involves extensive applications and vetting for both beneficiaries and their sponsors. Parolees don’t need to qualify for any other immigration benefit like asylum, but they need to meet the standard for humanitarian parole and successfully pass vetting requirements.

According to Refugees International, 532,000 people have been granted parole through the CHNV program.

A life-changing experience

From the moment she met her first parole beneficiaries at the airport—two families —McAnany already knew it would be a life-changing experience. “It immediately felt like family, like we were lifelong friends,” she said. But she could also sense that it was a culture shock for the parolees. On the way home from the airport, McAnany pulled into a nearby McDonald's and encouraged them to order dinner. Hearing the word “Big Mac,” the families smiled in recognition.

Despite the culture shock, McAnany’s parole beneficiaries had to adapt quickly to life in the United States. Once they were settled, McAnany worked “nonstop” to help the families acclimate to their new lives, answering questions about school and vaccinations while also helping them create resumes, search for jobs, and find English classes online.

It was through this process that McAnany realized just how resilient people could be, and was amazed “not only how hard it was for individuals to leave their loved ones behind, but the amount of work they did to come to the country and remain here.” McAnany also realized how fortunate she was to have her own family living nearby. “I can’t imagine any one of us leaving a country and being apart for an unknown length of time,” she said.

Eventually, and as circumstances changed—one of the parolees found a new job in another city, for example, and was able to move out. But no matter the length of time they spent with each other, McAnany says that with every parolee they formed a bond built for life. One woman, who she refers to as ‘E,’ has even become “like an adopted daughter.” McAnany has traveled to Georgia, where E now lives, three times to visit her.

Uncertain ground: What’s next for humanitarian parole programs

Despite being a critical part of immigration policy in the United States for the last 73 years, humanitarian parole programs are under threat. Immigrant justice nonprofits Justice Action Center and Human Rights First are currently suing the federal government to protect humanitarian parole programs and allow parole beneficiaries to remain in the country for the duration of their parole. McAnany is a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

One of the ladies Sandra sponsored from Venezuela and her partner during Sandra’s first visit to meet her (December 2023)

Participating in the lawsuit has only further bolstered McAnany’s belief in and support for humanitarian parole programs. She hopes the lawsuit will be successful, she says, so that parole beneficiaries and their families can finally have some stability.

“We don’t know what the future is,” she says, “but I want to be optimistic and hopeful that every person I sponsored will be able to stay here safely in the U.S. and continue to thrive.”

This article is part of Upworthy’s “The Threads Between U.S.” series that highlights what we have in common thanks to the generous support from the Levi Strauss Foundation, whose grantmaking is committed to creating a culture of belonging.

Politics

Folks on 'left' and 'right' share one thing they respect about one another. It's giving hope.

As one person wrote, "This is the most mature comment section I’ve seen."

Courtesy of Ashley Rankin @gynaminte_/TikTok

Looking at the positives of the other side makes it a lot harder to hate.

The United States feels on edge right now, with passions running high and partisanized rhetoric ramping up in the days following Charlie Kirk's assassination in Utah. For non-extremists, it's disheartening to see people on both "the left" and "the right" being painted in sweeping brush strokes filled with vitriol.

Most of us don't live like this in our everyday lives. Most of us don't live at extremes and are capable of nuanced thought. We acknowledge that the world's problems are complex and know that we aren't always going to agree on every solution. While we may disagree, sometimes vehemently, we don't paint half of our fellow Americans as the enemy.

america, united states, polarization, political division, partisanship Political polarization is out of control. It doesn't have to be this way. Photo credit: Canva

A woman in Utah, Ashley Rankin, was feeling overwhelmed and confused about the state of the country when she decided to make a video plea for compassion and understanding. "While recording, I zoned out for a second and my face perfectly captured how I felt in that moment," she tells Upworthy. "I dropped the words and thought, rather than telling people to spread love, hope, and compassion, I want to see what they will do, when presented with the opportunity."

So she overlayed her few-second video with "If you lean left, tell me something you respect about the right. If you lean right, tell me something you respect about the left," adding, "Let's spread hope." She asked viewers to fill her comments with positivity, and in a miraculous flip of the script we so often see online, people delivered exactly what she asked for.

@gynamite_
Please fill my comments with positivity! I live in Utah and things feel heavy here. #bridgingthedivide #HopeInHumanity #BetterTogether #UtahCommunity #positive

The comments filled up with people leaning one way or the other—sometimes even pretty far to the left or right—expressing their respect and admiration for various characteristics and beliefs of the "other side." It's truly a beautiful outpouring that demonstrates how much closer we are than we think:

"I am conservative, but I appreciate the left's fight for free lunches and universal healthcare. I don't believe anyone should starve or be denied medical care because they can't afford it."

"Left here: I respect how the right heavily advocates for the farm and rural communities. We really do need to send more resources out to them and respect our farmers more."

"Lean right - love the passion of the left and how they always want to speak up for the smallest person in the room."

"Straight blue voter here. I do appreciate the conservative principle of fiscal responsibility for the govt. We may disagree how our tax dollars are spent, but I don’t disagree that govt is wasteful."

Season 19 Episode 10 GIF by The Simpsons Giphy

"More conservative, but I love how the left advocates for preserving our earth, mental health, and resources for those who NEED them."

"As a Democrat I appreciate republicans patriotism and love for country and support for our troops and veterans. I just wish their representatives would vote to support those things that most of their constituents want to support."

"I’m more right than left, but I respect the left for their belief that you don’t have to be a traditional family to have family values. I actually agree with that."

"Leftist here 🤘🏼 I live in a deeply conservative, rural area. Whenever I’m in need, there’s help. Fresh baked bread randomly, the mechanic giving me free advice/discounts, fresh farm eggs cheaper than the store🥹"

"I’m mostly conservative. I appreciated the level of anger and ongoing fight regarding the undoing of roe v wade."

"Extremely left here, I appreciate how fiercely the right stands up for the working people; farmers, etc. I also am with them on getting violent criminals off the streets."

farmer, conservatives, liberals, right and left, politics People on the right tend to support rural life.Photo credit: Canva

"I’m conservative. I do truly respect that the people on the left wanting gun control have good hearts and genuinely want the gun violence to end."

"Dear Left-leaning people, Thank you for your fight for immigration rights. I may not 100% agree with how we get there, but, everyone deserves the right to come into the country and to have a chance for a better life."

"By far the BEST comment section I've ever seen. I lean left heavily but I've always admired how persistent Republicans are at pushing legislation and the change they want to see."

Perhaps surprisingly, perhaps not, there was a ton of love for John McCain and Barack Obama coming from opposite sides of the aisle in the comments.

"My family was always conservative, but everyone voted for Obama twice. Sometimes we have to accept that labels are for soup cans and vote for the person better qualified to lead."

"I’m a lifelong Democrat. I really loved John McCain! I thought he was such a well-rounded example of a true American patriot!"

"I lean more right, but Obama was the last president I felt like we all respected."

"I don’t 'lean' left: I am left. However, I think John McCain also conducted himself with so much integrity. I think he tried to do a good job and actually cared about the people in this country."

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"I am very Liberal and Canadian BUT when John McCain defended Obama against Muslim/ Arab attacks at his town halls…. I literally cried."

"I lean right, but I think the last time we had any dignity in politics, and I felt secure as a nation was when President Obama was in office. I think he’s an incredible leader, and he was the last time I trusted the person in power."

"I respect how John McCain stood up for Obama at one of his rallies and how he silenced the boos during his concession speech. Truly miss that kind of politics. Where we could disagree on issues but didn’t tear other down."

Mostly, though, people were just relieved and delighted to see how genuinely kind and heartfelt the comments were.

"This comment section glued a tiny piece of my heart back together."

"These comments are not what I expected to see. It gives me hope that we are not as divided as politicians and media wants us to believe."

"Reading all these comments makes me realize that we should be fighting extremists (both left and right) instead of each other."

"This is the most mature comment section I’ve seen. This is the dialogue I want to see. It’s easy to speak to each other when we do it in a respectful way rather than resorting to name-calling and oppressing others."

We really do have more in common than the online discourse and political rhetoric from many politicians would have us believe. Social media algorithms may reward extremism, but videos like this and the responses they're receiving are far more indicative of the reality most of us live in. Rankin's video has accumulated over 10,000 comments and they are overwhelmingly positive.

"I posted the short video hoping a few people would have genuine and respectful words, but was not expecting much," Rankin says. "I had NO idea the impact it would have on me and so many others. The comments were exactly what my weary heart needed. I'm finally proud to be an American again."

From Your Site Articles

hope

Health

Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman shares 'really weird' trick to fall asleep in five minutes

There's an easy way to trick your brain into calming down.

via Jamesbrianbounds/Wikimedia Commons and Canva/Photos

Andrew Huberman and a woman sleeping.

There is nothing worse than lying in your bed, with your mind racing, and you can’t fall asleep. The longer you lie in bed, the more anxious you get about falling asleep, which makes it even harder to catch some ZZZs. You've tried clearing your mind, but can’t. You’ve tried counting sheep but reached 100. What do you do now?

On a recent Real Time with Bill Maher, neuroscientist Andrew Huberman made an off-the-cuff remark about a sleep hack that he swears by, and it's based on brain research. Huberman is a Stanford University neuroscientist and tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology. He's also the host of the popular podcast Huberman Lab, which focuses on health and science.

How to fall asleep fast

“In fact, if you wake up in the middle of the night and you're having trouble falling back asleep, try just doing some long, extended exhales. And get this, this sounds really weird, but it has a basis in physiology. Keep your eyes closed and just move your eyes from side to side behind your eyelids like this, back and forth,” Huberman told Maher as he moved his eyes from side to side as if he was surveying a vast landscape. “Do some long exhales. I can't promise, but I'm willing to wager like maybe one pinky, that within five minutes or so, you'll be back to sleep.”

- YouTube youtu.be

Andrew Huberman’s hack is based on neuroscience

Huberman explained the exercise in greater detail on Mark Bell's Power Project podcast. In his appearance, he discussed the interesting connection between our eyes and their connection to the amygdala, an almond-shaped part of the brain that controls our emotional response. “Eye movements of that sort actually do suppress the amygdala [to] make people feel calmer, less fearful,” Huberman said. He adds that when we are on a walk, we move our eyes from side to side, to analyze the terrain ahead of us, and the amygdala calms down.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

“But for most people who are sighted, moving your eyes from side to side for 10 to 30 seconds is going to calm you down," Huberman said. "And this makes really good sense because, from an evolutionary perspective, an adaptive perspective, we've always been confronted with interpersonal threats and animal to human threats. Forward movement is the way that you suppress the fear response."

Americans aren’t getting enough sleep

Huberman’s video is important because many Americans need to get more sleep. A 2022 Gallup poll found that only 32% of Americans said they got “excellent” or “very good” sleep; 35% described their sleep as “good”; and 33% said their sleep was “fair” or “poor.”

Sleep is essential to maintaining good health. Getting at least seven hours of sleep a night is great for your memory, focus, emotional regulation, appetite, muscle recovery, and tissue repair. It also reduces the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. It’s great that Huberman shares his hack, which few people would have come up with without a background in neuroscience, to improve their sleep. It’s also another exciting way to show just how interconnected the body is, from eyes to brain and beyond. Sweet dreams.

From Your Site Articles

sleep

Pop Culture

Gen Xers and Millennials share childhood memories that would 'destroy' today's kids

The '70s, '80s, and '90s were a different time.

Photo credit: Canva

Nobody wants to relive this.

When adults compare themselves to “kids today,” two somewhat opposing views tend to happen at once. There's both rose-colored nostalgia (“the '90s were a simpler time!” “let’s go back to before we had screens!”) and a sense of superiority when it comes to facing challenges (“kids today are soft!” “I had to walk to school uphill in the snow both ways!").

Regarding the latter, perhaps a lot of that can be attributed to a cultural shift that’s more child-centered. This has led to a quantifiable increase in the number of “sheltered” kids, according to a new Harris Poll. Kids who never walked along in a grocery aisle, talked with a neighbor without their parents, walked/biked somewhere (without a chaperone…certainly nothing like the childhood many of us '70s/'80s/'90s kids grew up in.

This sparked a conversation among Gen Xers and Millennials on TikTok when someone asked, “What’s something we survived as kids that would absolutely emotionally destroy today’s kids?” Woo boy, did folks deliver. Dodgeballs flying at their face, handwriting words in cursive for hours on end, waiting weeks to get back terrible pictures…no one today could handle that. And those are just some of the examples. Keep reading for more.

1. "Going all day at school without a water bottle. We might get a small drink of water from the water fountain at recess, that’s it. Take away a younger person’s water bottle today for five minutes, and they act like they’ve been in the desert for three days without a drop of water and will die of dehydration."

Summer Water Spongebob Squarepants GIFfrom Summer Water GIFs

2. "Having to talk to people to get your questions answered. For everything." — meanwhile, I've seen today's kids have full-blown panic attacks simply about having to ask a waiter, "May I please get a cheeseburger?"

3. "No binge mode. If you wanted to watch The X-Files, you had to be in the house every Friday night while everyone partied. For four years."

"If you missed your episode, you might never see it."

3. "Having to encounter everything 'by chance.' Favorite song on the radio, favorite movie on TV… made it so much more rewarding, but we’ll never experience that emotion again. Like running into a friend out in the wild."

4. "Munching on snacks at 1 am watching Faces of Death."

For those unfamiliar, Faces of Death is a 1978 American horror film that shows scenes of gruesome deaths from around the world, both real and re-enacted. Fun, right?

gen x, millennials, gen z, gen alpha, boomers generational humor, tiktok, generational differences This movie earned 45% on Rotten Tomatoes. Amazon.com

5. "Dodgeball. I just played gaga ball with a bunch of Generation Alphas and omg, these kids are not gonna be okay."

What is gaga ball, you ask? A variation that's gentler, faster-paced, and more accessible. It’s Dodgeball Lite, essentially. And honestly, it's a legitimate improvement from the needlessly savage original.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

6. "Having to write everything in cursive from third grade on in pen. Writing by hand the rough draft, then the 2nd rough draft, then the final draft."

Man, lots of thoughts about handwriting, actually…

"Having to write a research paper while properly citing sources in the required format using only books, newspapers or microfiche from the library. And having to find all that by using the Dewey Decimal System. Also, no spell or grammar check to find our mistakes for us."

"Having to write a rough draft, having a classmate mark it up with errors, re-write it for the teacher to review with more mark-ups, and then having to write the final draft in pen, sometimes in cursive lol."

"That bump on the side of your middle finger from handwriting everything."

7. "Being bored. Kids today don’t know what real boredom is."

More specifically…

8. "Driving with your parent with NO FORM of entertainment. Just look out the window."

Even worse…

9. "Being trapped in the car with your smoker parents… with windows up. And of course, zero functioning seat belts."

10. "Babysitting infants and other small children when you yourself were only 12."

11. "Not being able to see the photographs before they get developed when using disposable cameras/rolls of film in the little black tubes."

12. "Dial-up internet and how it disconnected when someone else made a phone call."

Internet Internet Down GIFfrom Internet GIFs

13. "Driving without using GPS."

"Or when MapQuest was a thing and we had to print out directions to follow! I drove cross country with twenty pages of directions hahahaha."

14. "Trying to follow makeup tutorials that were just blocks of text in Cosmo magazine. No visuals. 🤣"

15. "Forgetting your key and having to wait from 3:45 pm until 6:00 pm when your mom finally gets home. No snacks, no water."

16. "Eating whatever is served, regardless of whether you like it or hate it. There was no asking what we wanted to eat for dinner or what sounded good to us. Nasty pot pie with peas? Eat it. Liver and onions that smell like absolute death? Eat it. And you ain't getting down from the table until your plate is clean — and they meant it. It could be all the way until bedtime. You not getting down. Period. My sister fell asleep face-first into her plate once."

17. "Having to find a library book through the card catalog to know its location."

18. "Calling your friend’s house and talking to their parents first when they pick up the phone. Small talk and communication skills in general have taken a huge hit."

19. "Pooping without a phone."

20. "The TV used to cut to nothing at night. literally the TV would just show the flag 'til the next day… Good night, America."

21. "You only got three lives in a video game, and when you died, you had to start from the very beginning!!"

22. "Blowing and smacking Nintendo games to make them work or not glitch."

23. "Having homework from all classes due the next day! 😂"

24. "Having to rewind a cassette tape with a pencil after being unraveled inside the cassette player, hoping it doesn’t twist while rewinding."

- YouTube www.youtube.com

25. “Those metal pedals on our bikes, hitting your shin cause you missed the pedal or riding with no shoes on."

26. "Having to cover all textbooks with paper bags from the local grocery store. The paper bags had outlines on how to cover your textbooks. Hated this for years. It eventually stopped in high school, possibly 11th grade."

27. "Actually going to a potential employer to ask if they’re hiring and for an application."

28. "The loud ticking of the massive analog clock on the wall during a test. The whole room silent. But the ticking of clock as loud as a rock concert. Every second click click click. I can still hear it in my nightmares. You know y’all younginz can’t tell time unless it’s digital."

29. "When I was in elementary school, lunch was still paid for with cash UNLESS you were a poor kid with free lunch. Then, they gave you a bright yellow laminated card and everyone in your class knew you were poor. 😏"

30. "Blackouts. They will NEVER survive blackouts the way we did back then."

31. "Chickenpox!"

32. "Not knowing if The Blair Witch Project was real or not."

Abell46s GIFfrom Abell46s GIFs

33. "Roman candle fights."

Ah yes, pointing fireworks at each other. What could possibly go wrong?

- YouTube www.youtube.com

34. “Climbing and falling off six-foot monkey bars onto plain concrete."

35. "The merry-go-round...pure steel in the summer."

36. "The threat of pulling 20 to life for my LimeWire bootlegs. The media had me feeling like young Capone."

37. "Thinking the world will end when Y2K comes."

38. "Computer crashing while just putting the finishing touches on your school report and you didn’t hit save."

39. "Having to manually change the channel on the TV and if the knob broke looking frantically for pliers!!! Don’t get me started on the aluminum foil on the TV antennas!"

40. "I was home alone in the morning and got myself fed, dressed and walked myself to afternoon Kindergarten."

41. "Non-stop bullying was normal. 😩"

Respeto GIFfrom Bully GIFs

42. "Riding in the back of a pickup truck down the highway."

43. "A dentist that doesn’t numb your gums before jabbing you with a needle."

44. "Having that ONE copy of the video you and your friends made, greatest memories ever, and then your dad tapes over it for a 90-second Tyson fight."

…and lastly…

45. "The Challenger Explosion, and no trauma counseling after. We were expected to just move on to the next class and go about our day."

That said, we can probably all agree that in reality, kids today endure plenty—we didn't exactly have to contend with active shooter drills, cyberbullying, etc.—and are incredibly resilient in their own way. This was more lighthearted than anything else. Or, at the very least, a fun and traumatic romp down memory lane for us olds.

From Your Site Articles

life

Community

ASICS tackles UK girls’ sports dropout crisis with revolutionary gym uniform redesign

The athletic brand calls it “The Undropped Kit.”

CREDIT: ASICS

Girls cheering.

When 64% of UK girls abandon sports before their 16th birthday, the ripple effects extend far beyond empty stadiums and playing fields. This staggering dropout rate represents more than a million teenage girls in the UK who will carry the physical and mental health consequences of inactivity into adulthood—and shockingly, one of the most overlooked culprits is something seemingly simple: what they’re required to wear.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

ASICS, in partnership with Inclusive Sportswear and mental health charity Mind, has revealed the “Undropped Kit,” a groundbreaking reimagination of school PE uniforms designed specifically with teenage girls’ comfort, confidence, and participation in mind. This shift represents more than just athletic wear or style; it addresses a public health crisis hiding in plain sight.

The hidden barrier: how PE kits become a participation killer

The numbers paint an anguished—and preventable—picture. Research commissioned by ASICS revealed that only 12% of UK girls are “completely satisfied” with their current school PE kit, while 70% of girls aged 14-16 said they would be more likely to participate in PE if their kit made them feel more comfortable. Perhaps most telling: only one in four girls aged 11-13 feels confident in their PE kit, a dramatic drop from 65% of girls aged 7-8.

girls, sports, gym, uniform, revolutionary Girl sitting by herself in the gym.CREDIT: ASICS

The specific complaints from girls show a clear picture of systematic design failures. As teenage participants in the research explained, "Our kit is itchy, see-through, and makes you really sweaty.” Others cited concerns about "period leaks showing," "baggy and shapeless" designs that "feel like they were made for boys," and the inability to adjust for different weather conditions or body types.

These aren't superficial concerns—they represent fundamental barriers to participation. The Youth Sport Trust's 2024 Girls Active survey found that 58% of girls want more PE kit options compared to just 29% of boys, highlighting how current uniform policies fail to address gender-specific needs.

Redesigning for real bodies, real concerns

The Undropped Kit represents a radical departure from traditional PE uniforms, incorporating features directly requested by teenage girls during extensive focus groups and testing at Burnley High School—specifically chosen because it's located in one of the UK regions with the lowest PE participation rates, according to Sport England.

The innovative design tackles each barrier systematically. For weather concerns, the kit includes a jacket with a detachable inner liner and padded panels for warmth retention, plus water-repellent fabric and a packable hood for wet conditions. To address comfort concerns, designers incorporated softer, darker, sweat-wicking fabrics that prevent visibility issues while providing better moisture management.

girls, sports, gym, uniform, revolutionary One of the revolutionary Undropped Kit outfits. CREDIT: ASICS

Perhaps most importantly, the kit addresses period-related anxieties—cited as the most significant barrier by 47% of girls aged 11-13 and 52% of girls aged 14-15. The solution includes dark-colored materials with discreet pockets for storing sanitary products, providing both practical storage and psychological comfort.

The versatility component centers on biker shorts as a base layer, which can be worn alone or paired with a detachable skirt or shorts for a stylistic choice between fitted and looser styles. This addresses the frequent complaint that current uniforms offer no accommodation for different body shapes or confidence levels. Small details matter too—the kit even includes an emergency hair tie built into the design.

The dropout crisis: more than just numbers

The scale of girls' disengagement from physical activity represents one of the most significant public health challenges of our time. By age 17-18, a whopping 55% of girls will have disengaged from sports entirely, with 43% of girls who classified themselves as sporty in primary school no longer identifying that way. This compares to just 24% of boys experiencing similar disengagement.

girls, sports, gym, uniform, revolutionary Girls warming up. CREDIT: ASICS

The timing is particularly devastating. Girls drop out at twice the rate of boys by age 14, precisely when the physical and mental health benefits of regular exercise become most crucial for development. The Youth Sport Trust's research reveals a significant decline in enjoyment: 86% of girls aged 7-8 enjoy PE, but this drops to just 56% among girls aged 14-15.

Globally, the crisis is even more stark: 85% of adolescent girls worldwide don't meet World Health Organization physical activity recommendations (an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to vigorous-intensity, mostly aerobic, physical activity, across the week), compared to 78% of boys. In England specifically, only 8% of girls are now classified as highly active, a dramatic decrease from 30% in 2017-18.

The intersection of puberty, body image concerns, and inadequate athletic wear creates a perfect storm: 50% of girls feel paralyzed by fear of failure during puberty, while 42% of girls aged 14-16 say their period stops them from taking part in PE. When combined with a kit that makes them feel exposed, uncomfortable, or "different," participation becomes psychologically untenable.

The broader societal stakes

The implications of mass female disengagement from physical activity extend far beyond individual health outcomes. Research from the Women's Sports Foundation demonstrates that girls who play sports experience 1.5 to 2.5 times fewer mental health disorders than girls who never played. Specifically, only 17% of girls who play sports experience moderate to high levels of depression, compared to 29% for girls who never played.

girls, sports, gym, uniform, revolutionary Girls wearing the Undropped Kit.CREDIT: ASICS

The protective effects are comprehensive. Sports participation provides 1.5 times higher scores for peer relationships and 1.5 times higher reported levels of meaning and purpose. These benefits extend across racial, economic, and disability lines, suggesting that sports access could serve as a powerful equalizer during critical developmental years.

The economic implications are equally significant. When girls abandon physical activity during adolescence, they're more likely to develop chronic health conditions, experience mental health challenges, and miss out on the leadership and teamwork skills that sports uniquely provide. Girls active in sports during adolescence and young adulthood are 20% less likely to get breast cancer later in life, while also showing improved academic performance and career outcomes, research shows.

Beyond the kit: systemic change

While the Undropped Kit represents an innovative solution to a specific barrier, ASICS and its partners recognize that sustainable change requires broader systemic intervention. The initiative includes the Inclusive Sportswear Community Platform, which provides schools, teachers, and parents with free access to expert training, toolkits, and guidance developed with the Youth Sport Trust.

The platform advocates for inclusive PE kit policies that prioritize choice and comfort over uniformity. As Tess Howard, founder of Inclusive Sportswear and Team Great Britain hockey player, explains: "A PE kit is the most underrated reason girls drop out of PE, but the good news is we can fix it—and fast. By listening to girls and evolving [sports] kits to support their needs, we can lift this barrier.”

girls, sports, gym, uniform, revolutionary Girls wearing the Undropped Kit. CREDIT: ASICS

The Undropped Kit prototype serves as both a practical solution and a powerful statement: that girls' comfort, confidence, and participation matter enough to reimagine fundamental assumptions about school uniforms completely. While the kit itself isn't available for commercial purchase, its impact lies in demonstrating what becomes possible when design truly centers user needs.

The crisis of girls dropping out of sports isn't inevitable. It's the result of systems, policies, and products that weren't designed with their needs in mind. ASICS' Undropped Kit proves that when we genuinely listen to girls and design for their experiences, we can begin to reverse decades of exclusion and build a generation of confident, active young women.

From Your Site Articles

health