TikTok’s Asoka Makeup Trend Embraces Indian Beauty

From Latin America to Southeast Asia, TikTok creators worldwide have been creating jaw-dropping makeup looks inspired by Indian bridal aesthetics. Inspired by the 2001 Bollywood film Asoka, TikTok’s new Asoka trend is a fun way content creators are bringing different cultures together through the power of makeup.

While it’s unclear who made the first Asoka makeup video, it became popular last month. Using the song “San Sanana” from Asoka, the makeup trend is hard to miss with its catchy tune.

Asoka is a biopic following India’s ancient prince Asoka and his journey of warfare, love and path to Buddhism. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays Asoka’s love interest Kaurwaki and performs “San Sanana” while dancing across meadows and waterfalls in the film.

The TikTok trend shows seamless and stylized transitions from different makeup looks. Users lip-sync “San Sananana” while showing off their blended and smudged makeup too. Some incorporate the traditional look from Kapoor’s character while most go for bright, intense and vibrant eyeshadows with green contacts.

@jharnabhagwani

Here’s my version of the #Asoka trend! 🫣♥️ Hope you guys like it 🥰 #jharnabhagwani #makeuptransition

♬ original sound – jharna bhagwani – jharna bhagwani

At the end of each TikTok video, users reveal a glamorous makeup look with traditional Indian bridal accessories. TikTok creator Jharna Bhagwani from Indonesia gained so much traction for her take on the Asoka trend that the video received over 30 million likes.

@okayafrica

🇲🇦🇬🇭🇰🇪🇳🇬 Rep your country in the comments and tag another African woman who has done this trend!😍😍 👸🏾👸🏿👸🏾👸🏻: @Campbellsdefinition @Anna Montez @Faruza Yakubu @🦋BASMA•BENRABIA🦋 #asokatrend #OKAviral #okayafrica #asokatransition #asoka #tiktoknigeria #tiktokkenya #tiktokghana #tiktokmorocco

♬ suara asli – Sita Suwarnadwipa – Sita Suwarnadwipa

Some TikTok creators use their country’s flag colors into their makeup looks too. Brazilian creator Camilla Pudim also received over 30 million likes for her video, painting yellow and green dots on her face to represent the Brazilian flag.

@camilapudim

Asoka makeup 🇮🇳 Versão Brasil 2 🇧🇷❤️ #asokamakeup #indiamakeup #makeuptransformation camila pudim India Makeup Ib: @ibra

♬ original sound – jharna bhagwani – jharna bhagwani

Though TikTok users are debating over which creator’s video is the best, the appreciation for Desi culture in a respectful and positive way is central to the Asoka trend.

@thisissangitapatel

I’m just so proud of this trend! Seeing women from around the world embracing our culture ❤️ I’ve been in television for over 15 years and I love how far we have come. Thank you @TikTok #asoka #diversity #celebrate

♬ suara asli – Sita Suwarnadwipa – Sita Suwarnadwipa

The Asoka trend is inspiring other cultural movements embracing different Asian makeup styles, with new videos mirroring the Asoka trend with traditional Chinese makeup.

@zzbratzbb

Will China makeup trend be the next asoka trend? I spent making this one hope u guys enjoy it thx @Lucia Liu for creating our own trend #makeup #chinamakeup #chinesemakeup #douyinmakeup #zzbratzbb #makeuptransformation #chunli #mulan

♬ original sound – jharna bhagwani – jharna bhagwani

It’s exciting to see what’s in store for the Asoka makeup trend and other looks it’ll inspire from around the globe. Have any looks you’d like to see make waves on TikTok? Let us know in the comments!