The Pink Pilates Princess: Unpacking Inaccessible Fitness Aesthetics

Authored by: Shereen Kazemi

Art by: Miriam Alex

Pilates, like many wellness trends, has evolved beyond just a core-building exercise into something much bigger. Enter the Pink Pilates Princess. She wakes up at 6:00 am. It’s a slow morning, perfectly warm and comfortable. She always starts her day off with a glass of lemon water and a guasha face roller. Then she gets ready to work out, slipping into a workout set from the current popular athleisure brand. It’s not just the outfit, or the fact that she’s on her way to a Pilates Class, that makes her a Pink Pilates Princess. It’s the little details-The Apple Watch, the Air Max headphones, and even her tumbler water bottle. Everything about her routine and presentation speaks for a carefully curated identity, one that embodies an image of health tied to consumerism. By examining the Pink Pilates Princess phenomenon, we can begin to unpack how the commodification of health creates unrealistic, inaccessible standards and bring attention to a more grounded understanding of health.

The Pink Pilates Princess was created by TikTok users in 2023, representing a consumer group that not only enjoys pilates, but wellness and self care. This demographic of young women are the same people who invest hundreds of dollars on high end athleisure and accessories[1]. The allure of Pink Pilates Princess was similar to the fitness trends before it, trends like yoga or SoulCycle. It taps into the desire to be put together, to be “that girl” that consistently prioritizes wellness and fitness while maintaining a trendy, fashionable aesthetic. 

Pilates is, in itself, a productive and beneficial workout. A study conducted in 2014 determined that pilates improved the “quality of life, general physical activity, and mental state” of participants compared to the control group that didn’t do pilates [2]. Additionally, there was evidence that Pilates helps improve sleep quality and reduce sleep latency. However, Pilates, especially reformer Pilates, is known to be more expensive. It is a type of Pilates that requires specialized machinery of a Pilates Reformer, which allows for resistance training through different movements manipulating the springs and pulleys, engaging a range of muscles that would otherwise be less engaged on a mat. Many fitness centers charge extra for reformer Pilates classes on top of monthly gym membership fees. This allows for access to the expensive machinery and personalized instruction needed for Reformer Pilates. If not through the gym, an individual has to pay for membership in a Pilates studio. The lifestyle of a Pink Pilates Princess is not cheap. It enforces this idea that wellness is inextricably linked to wealth. Wellness can be thought of as “optimal physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing,” and a big aspect of wellness culture is that there is a level of personal responsibility behind these lifestyle choices [3]. When wellness is used as a buzzword signaling self-care and health, and is associated with health behaviors that require access to a high income, it sends a message to young girls that in order to become healthy, you need to be wealthy. 

However, the most important aspects of a healthy lifestyle, like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and enough sleep aren’t necessarily exclusive to high-income earners. The problem with the Pink Pilates Princess is that it often distorts true health markers by emphasizing the pursuit of an image through consumer-driven aesthetics and material markers of wellness. It’s crucial to look beyond aesthetics when maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The image can overshadow the deeper, more meaningful aspects of health, such as mental clarity, emotional well-being, and sustainable habits. A healthier approach would shift the focus from image to overall health, making fitness accessible, inclusive, and rooted in “a positive view of individualization” rather than societal expectations [4]. Central to this idea is the improvement of equitable access to physical activity. According to an article by the ACSM’s health and fitness journal, the ways to implement interventions improving physical activity levels vary from establishing physical facilities, to cultural and linguistic tailoring, to low/no cost program memberships [5]. Removing barriers such as high costs, language differences, and lack of accessible locations fosters a more inclusive and effective fitness culture necessary for more young girls to envision themselves in the fitness space.

Ultimately, the Pink Pilates Princess is a symptom of the larger trend of consumerism in fitness culture. While participating in Pilates is a healthy and effective workout routine, the focus on a picture perfect, high-end lifestyle detracts from the reality of what fitness should be. True fitness is about supporting the body and mind, not just keeping up with appearances. It’s time to move away from the pressures of perfection and cultivate a healthy, authentic relationship with working out.

References:

1. Maguire, L. (2024, December 20). Why the pink Pilates princess is actually a key consumer group. Retrieved from Vogue Business website: 

   https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/fashion/why-the-pink-pilates-princess-is-actually-a -key-consumer-group 

2. García-Soidán, J. L., Giraldez, V. A., Zagalaz, J. C., & Lara-Sánchez, A. J. (2014). Does Pilates Exercise Increase Physical Activity, Quality of Life, Latency, and Sleep Quantity in Middle-Aged People? Perceptual and Motor Skills, 119(3), 838–850. 

https://doi.org/10.2466/29.25.pms.119c30z9 

3. Kirkland, A. (2014). What Is Wellness Now? Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 39(5), 957–970. https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-2813647 

4. Sassatelli, R. (2025). Fitness Culture. In The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, G. Ritzer (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405165518.wbeosf083.pub2 

5. Nocera, V. G., Taverno Ross, S. E., & Hasson, R. E. (2022). Equality- versus Equity-Based Approaches to Promoting Health and Fitness in Diverse Populations. ACSM’S Health & Fitness Journal, 26(1), 5–9. https://doi.org/10.1249/fit.0000000000000724