Whale tailing is a fashion trend that involves the visible appearance of the Y-shaped rear portion of a thong or G-string above the waistline of low-rise pants, shorts, or skirts, resembling a whales tail. The trend became popular in the early 2000s, together with the popularity of low-rise jeans and thong panties, but quickly waned within the decade. Whale tailing has been associated with the trend of sporting lower back tattoos. The trend has been attributed to the mainstreaming of the sexualization of young women, and some experts have termed it as "stripper chic". However, the trend has also been described as an attempt to redefine girlhood while acknowledging the debate around it. Whale tailing has been featured in popular culture, with celebrities such as Amy Dumas, Christina Aguilera, Victoria Beckham, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears displaying whale tails. The trend has also been observed in the animal kingdom, with tail sailing referring to the action of whales lifting their tails clear of the water for long periods of time.