How The Viral MAGA Party Girl Ended Buccal Fat Removal For Good

Remember when New York Magazine tried to make a bunch of conservative college kids look bad and accidentally made them look iconic instead?

Anna Claire Howland's cameo turned her into an "It Girl" overnight. People immediately started searching for more, wondering who this poised, apple-cheeked sorority girl who looked like she had just stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad was.

Turns out she's the 21-year-old president of Kappa Kappa Gamma at SMU, affectionately called "Madame President" by her sorority sisters and a signed model represented by Ludlow Scout.

In an era when Hollywood and Instagram influencers have embraced the buccal fat removal craze leaving their faces hollowed-out and gaunt, Anna Claire’s softer features are a perfect contrast to the artificial, overworked look that has dominated social media for years, and her adorable cheeks immediately became one of the most talked-about features of the now-infamous image, with admirers swooning over her natural beauty.

What Is Buccal Fat Removal?

Buccal fat removal is a cosmetic surgery procedure that permanently removes fat pads from the lower cheeks to create a more sculpted, hollowed-out look. The goal is to emphasize the cheekbones and give the face a more contoured, angular appearance—often associated with high-fashion models or celebrities with naturally sharp bone structures.

A plastic surgeon makes small incisions inside the mouth (on the inner cheek) to access and remove the buccal fat pads, which naturally give the face a softer, fuller look. The procedure is relatively quick, often performed under local anesthesia, and has a short recovery time.

Why Has It Been So Popular?

Buccal fat removal has surged in popularity in recent years, especially among influencers and celebrities looking for a “snatched” jawline or a sculpted, high-cheekbone look. It’s been promoted as a way to achieve a more mature, defined, and “modelesque” appearance without needing contouring makeup or fillers.

Celebrities like Bella Hadid and Lea Michele have fueled speculation about the trend, with social media influencers following suit, believing it to be a quick fix for a slimmer-looking face.

What many didn’t realize at the time was that buccal fat removal isn’t reversible. The results are permanent—meaning that once the fat is removed, it won’t grow back even if a person gains weight. So while it might look chic on a 25-year-old with a perfect bone structure, as you age, you lose facial fat naturally—so getting it removed in your youth means your face will sink even faster.

And let’s be honest: it rarely looks good. The sunken, shadowy effect often makes women look harsher, older, and slightly villainous. There’s a reason why every Disney stepmother and evil queen has angular cheekbones that could cut glass. Women were sold the lie that this was “elegant” or “high fashion,” but is it beautiful?

Apple Cheeks Are the Ultimate Feminine Flex

Full cheeks have long been associated with youth, vitality, and femininity. They can add warmth to a face, making someone look friendly, happy, and effortlessly attractive.

Anna Claire’s apple cheeks aren’t just cute—they enhance her already striking features, giving her an elegant and approachable look, so it’s no wonder men online immediately started pining over her viral photo—her beauty feels natural, classic, and real.

Compare that to the harsh, over-snatched Instagram aesthetic that’s dominated for the last decade. The hollowed-out, fox-eye, contour-heavy look is finally dying, and may we let it rest in peace.

A Ticket to Regret?

If you’ve been considering buccal fat removal, let this be your sign to think twice. While some women naturally have sculpted cheekbones (and it looks great on them), forcing a gaunt face through surgery can backfire dramatically. And if you're really convinced your cheeks need to look slimmer, there are ways to do that without surgery.

But it's very possible that once you hit your 30s and beyond, you’ll wish you had that youthful volume back. There’s a reason why fat transfer procedures exist—because women end up regretting these harsh, irreversible cosmetic trends and eventually try to restore what they removed.

Natural beauty never goes out of style. The same can’t be said for whatever’s trending on Instagram.

An Accidental Beauty Icon

Did Anna Claire set out to be the poster girl for a new beauty standard? Probably not, but that’s exactly what happened. As more women start ditching extreme procedures in favor of a more natural, feminine look, we may have Anna Claire’s viral MAGA moment to thank for bringing back chubby cheek supremacy.

Moral of the story? Keep your buccal fat. True beauty rarely comes from chasing the latest surgical fad.