Did Gigi Hadid Kill Contouring?

When Gigi Hadid broke onto the scene two years ago and became the industry’s golden girl, she heralded the return of the bombshell, as voluptuous models like Irina Shayk and Adriana Lima invaded the runways once more. It turns out that the 20-year-old may have inspired another movement, thanks to that famous apple-cheeked grin: the baby face coming back into fashion.

Where the Kardashians sparked a bronzer boom with their sharp features, Hadid brings an unexpected freshness that has cast the baby face—round, pinchable—in a newly flattering light. On the Spring 2016 runways, once hollowed-out cheekbones were replaced by bare makeup at shows like Public School and Jason Wu, which left models’ youthful facial silhouettes intact. Elsewhere, stars like Selena Gomez have leveraged their girlish good looks to find widespread appeal—which, in the singer’s case, meant becoming the most followed person on Instagram this week.

It’s a refreshing change of pace for women like me, who for years have struggled to craft bone structure from powder. For us—forever teenaged, only ever called “cute,” never beautiful—the prevailing wisdom has been that “you’ll appreciate it when you’re older.” Not so—or, at least, not good enough. Instead, this new wave of plump-cheeked icons challenges us to consider the singular beauty of a baby face and embrace it on its own terms.

There’s something to be said for softness. Take Gomez, whose appearance has changed little from her Disney Channel days. Yet, those full cheeks create a striking contrast with a structural Louis Vuitton sheath, or a sky-high Vetements denim mini, in the same way that a tulle ballerina skirt paired with tough moto boots catches the eye—managing to look not young, but plainly pretty. Then there’s Miranda Kerr, whose doll-like features set her apart from her more angular peers and prove that you don’t need glass-cutting cheekbones to knock them dead. A round face has become a way to stand out—an asset, not to be obscured by makeup.

It’s a mind-set in favor of what’s natural—the “come as you are” approach that has gripped fashion. Of course, that means that if you were blessed with perfect, prominent bone structure, you should embrace it. For everyone else, remember: Baby faces can be beautiful, too.