“Hubba, Hubba” is from a series of works by Holst that explore the lives of young girls who aspire to emulate the ideal, but come short because of their body types. This series was inspired by Holst’s reaction when seeing the desire and tension in childhood photographs of her trying to be graceful and failing miserably.” (Holst)

Holst’s two dancing girls in “Hubba, Hubba” are painted in hot colours and set off against a sumptuous field of black. The girls are dressed in unflattering dance costumes, that expose rather conceal their fleshy bodies. That the pressures to conform have negated the fun of dancing for these two girls is expressed in their faces. The girls’ attempts to smile appear more like grimaces.