The term gained traction around 2014 when Chinese social media users (primarily female fans on Weibo and Tieba) started using it to describe a new generation of young male idols: Lu Han, Wu Yifan (Kris Wu), Li Yifeng, and Yang Yang. These actors and singers shared a specific aesthetic (youthful, slim, smooth-skinned, and camera-ready) that was distinct from the 硬汉 (tough guy) archetype of older Chinese male stars.

The term is polarizing. Fans use it as a compliment: calling someone 小鲜肉 means they're young, attractive, and have star quality. But critics, especially older generations, use it to mock what they see as the 'feminization' of Chinese male celebrities and the superficiality of idol culture. In 2021, Chinese state media cracked down on 'effeminate aesthetics' (娘炮) in entertainment, and 小鲜肉 became entangled in that broader cultural debate. The counter-term 老腊肉 (old preserved meat) emerged for older male stars, a self-deprecating joke embraced by actors in their 40s+.