Just a few days ago, many on social media were wondering if the phenomenon of so-called therians would reach Cuba. The question no longer seems theoretical.
A Cuban hairdresser, known on Instagram as @leuryzsalon, shared with surprise that she received a message from a young woman who wanted a very specific makeover: not a “wolf cut,” but a “fox cut,” because, as she explained, she identifies as a fox.
“She told me it wasn’t the same because she is a therian,” the stylist recounted in a video that quickly began circulating. She confessed that at first she thought it was a joke. “I’m a hairdresser, not a veterinarian. This is not a dog grooming salon,” she remarked, while acknowledging that she didn’t know how to react. Still, she gave her an appointment.
The young woman, as she explained, mentioned that she is starting in that "world," that she has found her identity, and she wants to adapt her image to this new way of seeing herself. She even noted that she identifies as a fox Vulpes, a term that the hairstylist had to look up on Google because she didn't even know which species was being referred to.
But the story didn't end there.
On social media, a video began circulating featuring another young Cuban woman residing in Havana, who openly identifies as a “therian seal.” She states on camera that, although she doesn’t have the money to buy a mask or fur due to “the country’s economic situation,” she still identifies as a seal and even mimics the sound of the animal.
The contrast has not gone unnoticed by users. While some react with humor, others show confusion or concern. The phenomenon, which was already viral in countries like the United States, Mexico, and Argentina, is now starting to generate its own testimonials within the Island.
The term therian is used to describe people who claim to identify psychologically or spiritually with an animal, while acknowledging that they are biologically human. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, there are many videos of young people wearing masks, artificial tails, or recreating animal behaviors.
In Cuba, where every global trend tends to blend quickly with local ingenuity, the issue has sparked a debate that goes beyond mere anecdotes. There are those who advocate for individual freedom of identity and expression, and others who believe it is an extreme fashion driven by social media.
For many, however, what stands out is not just the animal identity, but the Cuban context in which it unfolds: young people discussing masks and furs amid a reality shaped by economic shortages, migration, and generational frustration.
Is it just a fleeting digital trend that will soon fade away? A search for identity in times of uncertainty? Or the beginning of communities that will also find a place on the Island?
What once seemed distant is now knocking at the door. And in a country where any phenomenon quickly becomes a national debate within hours, the conversation is just getting started.
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