Stop Living the Life of An Influencer: Be the Afternoon “It Girl”
Image Courtesy: Gridfiti
The “it girl” first infiltrated the fashion world at the start of the 20th century. From early model Evelyn Nesbit and Yves Saint Laurent groupie Nan Kempner, to the likes of today's socialites Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, the “it girl” has evolved ten times over. And between making headlines and serving as a blueprint for the masses, she continues to do so.
Through the decades, she remains the person everyone so desperately dreams to be. The “it girl” simultaneously represents many of our deepest desires, those which we rarely attain: a lavish lifestyle abundant with beauty, money and fame.
She’s no longer the rags-to-riches success story that ‘60s fashion icon Twiggy and so many others like her once were.
Today, she’s the girl with thousands of TikTok followers, who profits off of her perfectly curated daily routine; she starts at 5:00 a.m., whips up a fresh green juice, heads to her early morning spin class, snaps a shot of her perfectly Instagrammable açai bowl, journals and carries on with her day of productivity and healthy practices.
Image Courtesy: @tashietinks on Instagram
Encapsulated by elaborate skin-care and workout routines, the most recent “that girl” trend has been marketed as a form of self-care. While influencers strive to inspire and promote self-improvement through habitual health and wellness, the trend might be more harmful than helpful to the impressionable minds who follow it.
Not only does it reinforce the idea of long-lived Eurocentric beauty standards by promoting just one version of a girl — white, thin, typically wealthy and conventionally attractive (which is a whole other matter in itself) — but it also prompts a sense of self-sabotage; this distracting from the idea of realistic daily routines.
Not everyone is able to afford the lifestyle portrayed, let alone sacrifice enough time in the day to follow an influencer’s schedule to the second. This failure to adhere to the trend prompts a sense of inadequacy and can be mentally exhausting to those who can’t live out this dream life due to finances, jobs, education or other restrictive obligations.
The trend’s posts and videos don’t encompass the whole picture. They don’t show a person when they’re holed up in their depression room or going on a late-night McDonald’s run because they had no time to cook after their shift. It’s crucial to remind people that the lives in these videos which are so sought after, aren’t as perfect as they seem.
It's okay to go at your own pace; it’s okay not to fit the mold of the stereotypical "ideal woman.”
Image Courtesy: Enso Matcha
To combat the problematic trend, creators on TikTok are making videos depicting realistic versions of the “that girl” trend.
In some videos, you can see baskets of unfolded laundry adorning their bedrooms, stacks of dirty dishes overflowing in sinks and collections of cups on their nightstands; it’s refreshingly realistic.
Now more than ever, people need to be reminded that it’s good – and necessary – to take their time. So, when trying to make improvements, set goals according to your own lifestyle. Then, gauge what changes would be both personally beneficial and realistic. This could mean you may have to retire the morning “it girl” brand, and instead adopt the identity of the afternoon “it girl.”
How, though, should one go about being the model afternoon “it girl”?
Image Courtesy: JDAOUTFIT
Remember your life doesn’t need to be an aesthetic
Self-improvement is about living a sustainable lifestyle and doing what’s best for your health. Don’t get caught up in the pressures of having to take the “perfect” pictures for your socials or having to look cute all the time; it may not be the trendiest, but it’s what makes you happiest.
Afterall, your whole life doesn’t have to be for show – a mindset that’s starting to be translated into the new casual Instagram movement. The concept of turning photo dumps into a new style has gained much popularity, prompting people to post more random shots they gather from their day-to-day lives. From photos of their pets to snapshots of their favorite dishes of the week – people are starting to share what makes them genuinely happy rather than what they believe will increase their marketability.
Image Courtesy: @couturebiatch on Twitter
Focus on yourself, not others
Easier said than done, right? Trying to mimic the lives of others when it doesn’t work for you puts you at risk of feeling like a failure. With social media giving us a front-row view of what we’re convinced is supposed to be our lives, we’re fed a false narrative. This leads to self-criticism and discouragement when we’re unable to meet the expectations that have been imposed upon us.
Just because your life doesn’t mirror that of someone else’s, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed; afterall, there are many more aspects to people’s lives that don’t make it through the façade. Instead of spending time scrolling on your timeline and judging yourself for not mirroring the ways of prominent influencers, create specific workouts, meals and self-care plans that suit your own schedule and fulfill your own goals.
Image Courtesy: @valeriesuryanto on Pinterest
Acknowledge that even the smallest tasks are worth celebrating
Pushing yourself to do little things, like making your bed or getting dressed, that make you feel bold and beautiful are acts of self-care. Being able to crack open your planner and check these few tasks off your list provides a sense of accomplishment and elicits motivation to take on bigger projects. Big or small, celebrate yourself. Just remember to take your time.
People are noticing the superficiality tied to much of the content promoted by today’s social media stars. It’s difficult to overlook material that gains so much traction across the internet, so strive to disconnect. Take a social media hiatus if you must, but above all, look inward and identify the improvements you want to see in your own life, not the expectations that someone else has mapped out for themselves.
Image Courtesy: Strike Gainesville
Take it day by day, be gentle with yourself and remember that you’re not just your social media presence.
Strike Out,
Writer: Sofia Ramos
Editor: AJ Bafer
Graphics: Autumn Mattox
Gainesville
