Fashion's new trend is right behind you: Big bums are back

Yes? Then...whoopee! The ever-swirling world of fashion has moved on, it seems, from the sylph-like look of supermodel Kate Moss.

Now the trend is for a curvy derriere thanks to stars like Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian. Women are even using exercises like the squat, as those with less than ample posteriors attempt to boost their backsides with more muscle.

Many are also making enquiries about having implant surgery, citing rumours that reality star Kim, 33, has had a little extra added.

The features that females like most about themselves are their legs, followed by shoulders, breasts, back and arms, says a poll carried out by high street giant Debenhams to mark Body Confidence Week.

But the bottom is in eighth place.

And a new trend is the rise of the “belfie” – a selfie photo taken by a woman and posted on line to show off her backside.

Big bottoms were fashionable back in the 18th century when women wore panniers under their skirts to expand their appearance. Victorian corsets were matched with bustles, which padded out the posterior.

And in the 1940s and 50s the hourglass figure with prominent rear made a comeback with the rise of pin-ups like Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe. But from the 1960s onwards tiny bottoms became more fashionable, thanks to waif-like models such as Twiggy.

The research comes as the Government launches a new campaign, Be Real, to deal with a “national epidemic” of low body confidence among young people.

Debenhams spokesperson Elena Antoniou said: “Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and rapper Nicki Minaj have all helped to show women that you can be fit and healthy and have plenty of curves.

“By asking women to identify their favourite parts of their bodies we wanted to encourage more positive feelings and to embrace our diversity of shape and size, rather than attempt to achieve an impossible ideal.”

The lesson? A big bot can be beautiful to behold...