Google’s Gemini “Nano Banana” model is an AI‐image editing/generation tool that turns your photo + text prompt into stylized portraits, figurines, retro-style edits, or emotional composite images.
Users use Gemini’s image editing interface, uploading selfies (current self, childhood self etc.), giving prompts for lighting, attire, background etc.
Some popular types: “Hug My Younger Self” (adult + child version of self), vintage Bollywood / retro saree portraits (90s movie poster style), 3D figurine / acrylic base mockups etc.
This has a mix of nostalgia, emotional appeal, and aesthetic novelty. Celebrity participation and reposting accelerates spread.
It doesn’t require graphic design skills; simple prompts + selfies make it usable by many. This democratization helps it go viral.
The model delivers high resolution, good lighting, believable textures (skin, fabric etc.), recognizable features, so people feel the outcome is “wow.”
For many users (especially in India), retro Bollywood aesthetic, nostalgia for childhood, vivid traditional clothing like sarees, classic film lighting and drama carry strong emotional weight.
The “Hug My Younger Self” trend taps into nostalgia, introspection, self-reflection. It’s more than aesthetics; many users see it as symbolic, therapeutic.
AI recognizing marks (like moles) not in original upload, suggesting inference from other images; concerns about how much of their photos or metadata AI has access to.
Google benefits: the trend has driven large numbers of downloads / engagement for Gemini. The virality increases its prominence among AI image editing tools.
As many posts show near-perfect lighting, idealized old-glam looks etc., people can feel their normal selves look inferior. There’s implicit pressure to conform to stylized beauty.
Beyond selfies, people are using this to reimagine themselves in fantasy, historical or cinematic contexts; merging styles; experimenting with art + identity. It acts as a creative outlet.
This brings the risk of misleading or “fake” feelings, over-editing, erosion of natural authenticity.
It also risks around misuse of AI, over-sharing of personal data, and potential emotional effects of comparing real self to idealized AI self.