Why fans of the viral baby hippo want her look

Moo Deng, the viral baby pygmy hippo, has inspired memes, merchandise, and fan art. Now she's pushing a beauty trend: makeup that mimics Moo Deng's signature glow.

Unless you've been avoiding social media for the past few weeks, you've probably seen the adorable two-month-old hippo with the enviably dewy complexion and perpetually rosy cheeks. But don't be jealous of her beauty. Now you too can get your fresh look. Videos of the global internet superstar's “Moo Deng makeup” tutorials – sleeping, nursing, splashing and wiggling in the water – and biting zookeepers at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo, where they, are popping up on TikTok, Instagram and beyond, among other videos was born and is alive.

Non-hippos may have to work hard to get Moo Deng's glossy skin and flushed, pink cheeks, but the hippo naturally brings these sought-after physical characteristics.

“Pygmy hippos have tiny mucous glands all over their skin that secrete a pink mucus that keeps them hydrated and protected from the sun,” the World Wildlife Fund explains of the creatures, an endangered species from West Africa that is largely threatened by deforestation. “Their skin is actually greenish-black, but the mucus gives them a pinkish glow.”

Their smooth, almost hairless skin is also thin, which helps the mammals stay cool in high humidity. However, they can dry out quickly in the sun.

Pygmy hippos grow to half the size of an adult hippo and weigh less than a quarter of their larger counterparts. Born on July 10 to mother Jona and father Tony, Moo Deng quickly rose to fame after zookeepers shared photos and videos online of her being unbearably cute. Chosen by a public vote, Moo Deng's name means “springy pork”.

“She's got it all: dewy skin, a great halo eye and a zest for life,” said beauty influencer Mei Peng, whose TikTok tutorial on avant-garde Moo Deng makeup has racked up 9.4 million views so far. A “halo eye” refers to an eye with a light, shimmery shade in the center of the lid and darker, smokier tones at the inner and outer corners. Peng is among those who recreated this type of eye in the style of everyone's favorite semi-aquatic mammal. In the video below, another TikTok user, Cindercella, shows how to get a Moo Deng eye by mixing gray and pink and adding dramatic lashes.

For those who don't have the makeup skills to create a fancy moo face, the tutorials first focus on a few basic principles: cleansing and exfoliating the skin for a smooth base, then applying foundation to even the skin tone Smooth before applying Apply hippo-colored blusher to a wider area of ​​the cheek than you would normally. A frosty highlighter and lipstick complete the look. Sephora Thailand has even started marketing special products that promise to come close to Moo Deng's pink/peach shade.

“Moisturized and undisturbed, Moo Deng is the ultimate beauty queen,” one commenter wrote on Peng's video. Another wrote: “Moo Deng is who I want to be.”

But being Moo Deng is not without its challenges. Her notoriety has led to a massive increase in attendance at the zoo, where onlookers flooded her enclosure and some threw water and objects at her, eliciting a reaction that they no doubt shared on social media.

“These behaviors are not only cruel but also dangerous,” zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi said in a statement, as reported by The Telegraph. “We need to protect these animals and ensure they have a safe and comfortable environment.”

Hopefully Moo Deng's new 24/7 livestream will help calm the roaring crowds. If we're lucky, the little celebrity might even film one of those popular “get ready with me” segments where she shares all her beauty secrets.