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It's official the 'whale tail' trend is back from the 00s and it's sexier than ever

The whale tail craze also known as the visible thong trend is back and racier than it ever was. Beautiful models paid homage to the noughties style at Miami Swim Week

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Fashion & Beauty

Sophie Roberts Head of Social Newsdesk

13:24, 29 May 2026Updated 13:24, 29 May 2026

[Visible thongs are back in Vogue]

Visible thongs are back in Vogue(Image: Getty Images for Monday Swimwear)

Good news the 'whale tail' trend is back from the noughties, and it's even saucier than it was the first time around.

The Y2K revival has officially reached its peak in swimwear, with visible thongs emerging as one of the most unapologetic styling trends on the Miami Swim Week catwalk.

Rather than treating the bikini bottom as an undergarment to be hidden by cover-ups, designers are actively styling high-cut, string thong bikinis to peek out prominently above low-rise sarongs, sheer skirts and baggy linen resort trousers.

This cheeky homage to the early 2000s (reminiscent of the MTV era) is all about confidence and playful nostalgia. And that's definitely the vibe we've been getting from this week's catwalk shows.

[A model walks the runway for Mars the Label during Miami Swim Week]

A model walks the runway for Mars the Label during Miami Swim Week(Image: Getty Images for Miami Swim Week: The Shows)

[In the same show, a runway star pulled down her beach cover-up to flaunt the trend]

In the same show, a runway star pulled down her beach cover-up to flaunt the trend(Image: Getty Images for Miami Swim Week: The Shows)

Mars the Label is one of the brands that incorporated the noughties-themed fashion into its 2026 collection, which gave off a high-impact, colourful and fun energy.

Rather than playing it safe with traditional silhouettes, the brand utilised the runway to showcase exactly how the visible thong trend can be integrated into high-glamour beachwear.

The collection heavily featured strategic, asymmetrical cut-outs and high-cut thong bottoms that extended well above the hip bone. The styling emphasised exposed, strappy waistbands peaking out over matching resort skirts and low-slung cover-ups.

The Monday and Leslie Amon Resort 2026 shows also celebrated the throwback thongs. The former went for a subtle look, styling the whale tail with a sarong, an oversized hat, and metallic detailing.

In contrast, the model at Leslie Amon's runway took a much bolder approach. While posing for the cameras, she hitched up her bikini bottoms to really emphasise the nostalgic V-shape for all to see.

[A model walks the runway for the Leslie Amon Resort 2026 show during Paraiso Miami Swim Week at The Paraiso Tent on May 30, 2025 in Miami Beach, Florida. ]

The Leslie Amon Resort 2026 show went full throttle with the whale tail trend(Image: Getty)

[Models walk the runway for Mars the Label during Miami Swim Week: The Shows at Mondrian South Beach on May 28]

As the Miami Swim Week catwalk shows, you can be as subtle or cheeky with the trend as you like(Image: Getty Images for Miami Swim Week: The Shows)

It just shows that there are so many ways to try the trend. You can be more demure by using a beach cover-up or go all-out with low-rise bottoms to celebrate the craze in all its glory.

Origins of the whale tail trend

If you were around in the early 2000s, you'll probably remember the divisive craze. It refers to the Y-shaped waistband and strings of a thong intentionally exposed above the waistline of low-cut jeans, shorts or skirts.

When viewed from the back, the shape of the exposed underwear resembled a whale diving into the ocean, which gave the style its name.

Rather than a wardrobe malfunction, the whale tail was a deliberate, highly calculated styling choice. It was the ultimate symbol of naughtiness and rebellion.

Early pioneers of the visible thong trend included Britney Spears, who often flashed her undies above her low-rise jeans in music videos and live performances.

[Christina Aguilera in Trish Summerville at MTV Video Music Awards 2000]

Christina Aguilera in Trish Summerville at MTV Video Music Awards 2000(Image: Getty Images)

[Actress Gillian Anderson arrives at the Vanity Fair post Oscar party March 25, 2001]

Actress Gillian Anderson arrives at the Vanity Fair post Oscar party March 25, 2001(Image: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, during her "Dirrty" era, Christina made the whale tail a central part of her highly provocative, chaps-and-bikini-bottoms aesthetic.

It wasn't just singers who pulled off the look. Halle Berry famously wore a red-carpet-ready version to the 2000 MTV Movie Awards, pairing a sequined, pink, see-through thong with a matching two-piece outfit.

Gillian Anderson also jumped on the bandwagon with a surprisingly glamorous take. The X-Files star attended the 2001 Vanity Fair Oscar party in a backless dress that revealed a built-in thong, much to fashion fans' delight.

Why has the whale tail trend come back?

By the late 2000s, the trend began to burn out. As fashion shifted toward higher-waisted silhouettes, skinny jeans, and more tailored aesthetics.

The whale tail was heavily criticised by fashion critics as "tacky" and inappropriate. Dress codes in schools and workplaces were updated specifically to ban it, and the thong retreated back below the waistline for over a decade.

However, those who love fashion will know that trends are cyclical. Fashion operates on a strict 20-to-25-year nostalgia loop, which means the whale tail revival is right on time.

[Hailey Bieber attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art]

Hailey Bieber attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art(Image: Getty Images)

[ A model walks the runway for Mars the Label during Miami Swim Week: The Shows at Mondrian South Beach]

A model walking the runway for Mars the Label this month(Image: Getty Images for Miami Swim Week: The Shows)

By the early-to-mid 2020s, the early 2000s were officially "vintage." Gen Z, who were either babies or not even born during the original Y2K era, discovered the fashion on TikTok, Pinterest, and vintage resale apps.

To them, the whale tail didn't carry the "tacky" baggage it did for millennials it just looked unapologetic, daring, and fun.

Celebrities who have embraced the visible thong trend in recent years include Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, who both chose the cheeky look for the Met Gala red carpet.

Additionally, Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, Kim Kardashian, and Bella Hadid have shared their own takes on the style.

So would you be bold enough to try the whale tail on your next holiday or pool day? Let us know in the comments section below.

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