Butts: We all have ‘em, but each one is different in its own beautiful way. Like boobs (and nipples), there are a few different factors that affect their appearance and position. Of course, no two booties are *exactly* alike, but there are five common butt shapes — square, A-shaped, inverted, round, and upside-down heart-shaped — and learning about them can help you better understand and celebrate your body.
It’s possible that your butt shape might not precisely fit into one of these categories, and that’s completely normal. In fact, butts can change shape during different stages in life. “Age, weight, and hormone changes can affect butt shape,” Dr. Jennifer Levine, New York City-based double board-certified plastic surgeon, says. Butts go through natural transformations after puberty and, later in life, during pregnancy and menopause.
Its form is affected by your lower body’s bone and muscle placement. “The size of the gluteal (butt) muscles, as well as the position of the hip bones and pelvis, are going to determine butt shape overall,” Dr. Levine explains. “It also has to do with how the butt muscles attach to the thigh bone.”
Ahead, Dr. Levine explains what the bone and muscle positioning looks like for each butt shape. So without further ado, here are the five common butt shapes.
Leah Campano is an Associate Editor at Seventeen, where she covers pop culture, entertainment news, health, and politics. On the weekends, you can probably find her watching marathons of vintage Real Housewives episodes or searching for New York City’s best almond croissants.
12 Surprising Truths About Guys and Sex
The FDA Approved the First Over-the-Counter BC!
7 Signs Your Period Is Coming Tomorrow
Can You Have Sex With a Tampon In?