#ChallengeAccepted: why women are posting black and white pictures on Instagram in HK and around the world

You've probably seen your social media feeds flooding with black and white pictures of women, or maybe you've been nominated to participate for the challenge. Well, however you've seen it, you might well be wondering what it's all about. #ChallengeAccepted is a viral chain letter that has taken the world by storm, with over five million women around the globe posting black and white photos of themselves on Instagram in all kinds of different poses. This social media movement has gained momentum by women sharing a monochrome snap of themselves alongside the hashtags #ChallengeAccepted and #WomenSupportingWomen and then tagging a woman in their life that they want to show support for. The pictures that have been flooding social media feeds include women standing on mountaintops, posing in bikinis, on yoga mats, or stylized images of themselves that look fresh out of a magazine beauty editorial. Others show pictures with their kids or pets, or even showing their baby bump or mastectomy scars. There have been a few trending quotes to accompany the images, like "we rise together when we lift each other up", or "women supporting women." However, some critics are questioning the irrelevance of a 'challenge' just to post a vanity black and white picture of themselves. Nevertheless, it's been taking social media by storm, and the numbers of women participating (we've even seen some men!) keep on growing.   

There are various competing ideas as to where the movement originated – including in Turkey as a show of solidarity against femicide; in Brazil for cancer awareness; to the recent lambast of American Representative Ted Yoho by fellow Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez over sexist treatment. One thing is for sure, however: that included in the millions of women around the world that are taking part in the movement are some high profile stars, like Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington, Cindy Crawford, Khloe and Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Ivanka Trump, Nicole Scherzinger, Amy Schumer, Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, and many more.  

Here in Hong Kong, various celebrities like actress Eliza Sam, Canto-pop singer Joey Wong, and actress Christine Kuo, already joined the bandwagon. Here's a few of some of the pictures of local celebrities participating in the trend.