Jazz Legs: The Photogenic Pose That's Going Viral

We love finding new ways to snap photos, especially when it’s as easy as standing in a new way to take a super-flattering mirror selfie. In recent years, we’ve seen Barbie feet and the baby giraffe pose go viral, but if you take a scroll through Instagram now, you’ll discover that celebs, models, and fashion people have a new trick for pulling off photogenic outfit photos. Let me introduce you to jazz legs, everyone—a term we coined because of the bent, Fosse-like leg that looks like it belongs in a dance routine.

To master the pose, simply lean on your back leg and bend it at an angle, keeping your front leg forward and straight with your toes pointed. It instantly lengthens the body and gives the illusion of longer legs, so it’s easy to see why it’s become the new go-to stance for selfies right now. Ahead, see the “jazz legs” pose in action, including how I test-drove it myself.

After seeing many photos of the pose on my Instagram feed, I tried it out for myself. Like I mentioned, it's very easy to pull off—just leaning back on your back leg and bending it at an angle.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is the person who really put jazz legs on the map for me. I noticed that she does this post on repeat during her regular series of outfit roundups on Instagram.

More proof that Huntington-Whiteley is a big fan of the "jazz legs" pose.

French fashion girl Camille Charrière shows that she's also behind the photogenic pose. Plus, a great outfit idea, pairing a puff-sleeve top with slit leggings.

A leg-baring look like this minidress and white ankle boots is the perfect outfit for the pose.

How photogenic is this pose?

Next, read about the comfortable shorts that are suddenly everywhere.