Amita Rao, a main star of the series Adults, responded to criticism about her hairy armpits, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, by saying she would send photos of her pubic hair to those who found her armpit hair excessive. The issue of women's body hair remains a topic of public debate, with the "full bush in a bikini" trend bringing attention to female body hair in 2025, according to Dazed. This trend highlights the visibility of natural body hair in swimwear and has sparked discussions about societal expectations around grooming. The controversy over women's armpit and leg hair persists, partly because cleanliness has long been associated with shaving. The stigmatization of women's hair is often framed through the lens of hygiene, though 78% of American men leave their armpits unshaven. According to YouGov, more than half of the British public believe women should shave their armpits. A 2023 American study found that 70% of women shaved their armpits at least once a month, and 11% never did. In Britain, 78% of women surveyed said they had shaved their armpits at least once, and 63% particularly disliked the experience. Dazed notes that for women, hair removal remains the default attitude. Saying "I don't shave my bush" does not have the same effect as not shaving one's legs, as the pubic area is not visible and does not lead to the same kind of thoughts. Esther Calixte-Béa, a "pro-hair" activist, said in Dazed that leg hair is both more exposed and less erotic than pubic hair, and that hairy legs "give an impression of neglect." Joanie O'Mara, a 28-year-old woman who stopped shaving her legs, cited by Dazed, said hairy legs express indifference towards men's gaze, whether intentional or not. Dazed added that in the public sphere, women with hairy legs "have given up the idea of being beautiful," and that hairy legs are "not sexy" and are considered rather masculine. Esther Calixte-Béa noted that when women talk about hair, it is generally about fine hair or less visible hair, and that such conversations are less threatening to the status quo. Dazed also pointed out that having hairy legs is only considered an assertive gesture if a person is a public figure; otherwise, people think it is an embarrassing accident, such as forgetting to shave or not realizing how much hair had grown. Dazed emphasized that "hair is not a trend, it is a natural state."