How “Brat” Taught Me to Love Myself
This one’s for all my mean girls.
Well, my mean girls who filter their speech. The ones who dodge eye contact, leave their sharp comebacks unspoken, and maybe say something stupid instead to spare someone’s feelings. This one’s for all the nice girls who are mean to themselves because it's easier to blame yourself than to admit it may just be an issue of self-confidence.
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In an era dominated by social media and microtrends, I often find myself falling in love with new albums, artists, and sounds. Like many others, I pride myself on playlists curated for any obscure situation, letting songs flow in and out of rotation with the phases of my life.
In June 2024, I stumbled upon the internet’s newest obsession: “Brat.” Charli XCX’s sixth studio album quickly went viral, appearing all over my TikTok and soon in all my Spotify playlists. It was “Brat” summer, a time to embrace funky hyper-pop and let loose. But as I continued listening, it became clear that “Brat” wasn’t just influencing my music—it was shaping my self-worth.
A few months ago, I would’ve scoffed at that sentiment. How could repetitive dance beats and songs about partying carry deeper meaning? I always knew music could evoke emotions and inspire change, but I thought that only applied to songs with profound lyrics or hidden messages. I never imagined a bright-green album with the word “BRAT” in pixelated lettering would soon mean so much to me.
Growing up, I felt like a wallflower. I was the youngest by ten years, one of the only Indian girls at school, and always the loudest in the room. As a child, none of this bothered me, but as I grew older, I suppressed my ideas and watered down my personality until insecurity poured out of me. Some insecurities, like those about my culture, faded with time and exposure, while others lingered, rotting my confidence like a bad apple. I covered my dark brown eyes with colored contacts, plucked my bushy eyebrows, and filtered my thoughts for fear of being off-putting.
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Since its release, “Brat” has become my anthem—not because it made me love every part of myself, but because it taught me to be unapologetic about who I am. As Charli said in her interview with Resident Advisor, “The character is more interesting than the music.” “Brat” isn’t just an album, it’s a persona.“You’re just that girl who is a little messy and likes to party. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. Someone very blunt, a bit volatile. Someone who does dumb things but, like… it’s Brat. You’re Brat.”
As I listened to Charli XCX’s album, I understood why it resonated so deeply. Her alter ego celebrated the same parts of herself I had been concealing for so long. Charli showed me the power of standing out with her dark, sharp features. A woman doesn’t have to be soft to be beautiful; she can be bold and badass. Charli is beautiful because of her curly black hair, smudged eyeliner, and defined nose, not in spite of it. Just like her album, Charli never softens herself for anyone. She uses her differences to set her apart, which is what makes her so special. From confrontational lyrics to the unappealing “Brat” green branding, Charli embraces the weird, messy and blunt aspects of her identity like a superpower.
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When it comes to loving myself, I know I am kind, intelligent, and generous. But I am also a brat. Like Charli, I can be many things at once. Life is too short to whittle yourself down to what’s “acceptable.” I can share my opinions, even if no one’s listening. I can befriend the girls I admire instead of tearing them down. I can wear thick eyeliner under my dark brown eyes and tank tops without a bra—and if anyone doesn’t like it, they don’t have to look.
Being a brat means always leaving them guessing. As a half-Indian female at the center of pop culture, Charli XCX has helped me embrace who I am, and for that I’m grateful. She puts it best: “Brat behavior is born from insecurity. It is the combination of ultra-confidence yet ultra-vulnerability.” It’s not about pretending insecurities don’t exist, it’s about accepting them as part of us, just like the qualities we love. “Brat” isn’t just a phase or trend, it’s a step in my journey toward self-love so that one day I may become the girl who can look in the mirror and like what she sees.
Strike Out,
Writer: Ria Pai
Editor: Olivia Evans
Ria Pai is a writer for Strike Magazine GNV. She starts her day with copious amounts of coffee and ends it laying in bed thinking of witty comebacks to unlikely scenarios. During the interim, she enjoys making elaborate meals for the people she loves, ranting about the same three topics in her journal and never skipping leg day. You can reach her on Instagram @veryberrypai, or by email at pairiaraj@gmail.com.
