What is FUPA and why is everyone loving it?

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Beyoncé’s highly-anticipated American Vogue cover has been making headlines for more reasons than one.

Not only has the iconic September issue made history given that a black photographer was chosen to shoot the cover, a first for the magazine in its 126-year history, but the singer’s interview sees her opening up about a series of candid topics, such as body image, pregnancy and raising children.

However, there is one soundbite in particular that seems to have resonated most, sparking viral praise and intrigue in equal measure.

The singer’s reference to her “FUPA”, a little-known acronym which savvy social media users have translated to meaning fat, upper pubic area, has garnered a flurry of attention, with many lauding the remark as a hallmark of body positivity.

In the interview, Knowles speaks out about learning to embrace her curvier post-pregnancy figure after the birth of her twins in July 2017.

"I accepted what my body wanted to be," she said.

"After six months, I started preparing for Coachella. I became vegan temporarily, gave up coffee, alcohol and all fruit drinks. But I was patient with myself and enjoyed my fuller curves. My kids and husband did, too."

"To this day my arms, shoulders, breasts and thighs are fuller," she continued.

"I have a little mommy pouch, and I'm in no rush to get rid of it. I think it's real. Whenever I'm ready to get a six-pack, I will go into beast zone and work my a** off until I have it.

“But right now, my little FUPA and I feel like we are meant to be."

Though the term is not well-known - it is sometimes used as derogatory slang - FUPA is generally used to describe a loose layer of fat in the lower abdomen region that sometimes occurs after rapid weight loss.

Medically speaking, this type of fat is referred to as the panniculus.

The 36-year-old’s use of the more user-friendly moniker has catalysed a wave of social media activity, inspiring fans across the globe to create endless memes and GIFs in a bid to acknowledge and celebrate their respective FUPAs.

“I have never heard the term FUPA until Beyonce and I’ve had one my entire life. I love her,” one person wrote.

“Beyoncé is accepting of her FUPA and that's what self love is about,” another added, “she isn't torn on breaking her body down to please the masses.”

Her comments have even caught the attention of fellow celebrities, with Orange is the New Black actor Laverne Cox writing that the singer’s comments hit an emotional nerve:

“This quote made me cry,” Cox wrote on Twitter before proceeding to directly quote Knowles’ FUPA reference.

British author Olivia Cole shared the same quote on Twitter, commenting: “So much power and love and importance in this. Wow, what a human.”