Why TikTok Trends turn Toxic: A ‘That Girl’ Analysis
The seemingly wholesome video lasting a mere seconds can drastically change its notions to narcissism.
As a jarring (and hilarious) statement, Urban Dictionary defines that girl as “Known mostly on tiktok, “That Girl” is a girl (or any gender) that gets up at 5am, meditates, drinks smoothies, has showers every day, journaling, eating only healthy food, goes to gym every day,and is successful in many ways. This stereotype is typically on tiktok and films morning or night routines. Most likely rich too…”
On an individual standpoint, that girl should be a marker for aspiration, a benchmark for young (mostly) female audiences on how to live their independent lives. Eating clean, staying lean and living peacefully should be the end goal, a no-brainer.
However, the depths of waters are untested when it comes to this trend. Largely considered a screen-stunt, that girl is dubiously fabricated to be an ideal on-screen, one can also call it to be the digital version of ‘Even the models don’t look like the girl on the cover’. With a color palette of pastel greens and blues colorblocked with gym clothes in gray and black, the situation is a far fetched fantasy.
Some notions highlighted to being that girl include the basics of hygiene and living, something we were taught as kids in preschool. Washing yourself, exercising regularly, eating healthy, basic makeup, all this and so much more makes you ‘that girl’. Easier said than done. Most of us have 8 hour jobs plus part-times to make it through the day, our closets aren’t full of gymsharks and our day ends at 1, maybe 2 in the morning. Sounds like I am sulking about life, yet it’s not hard to understand that keeping the ‘that girl’ life is only possible for full-time influencers who wish to portray that image.
The Rise of That Girl
The digital age has brought the trends of today to be intermingled with the fashion trends on the runway. However, that girl comes off more as a lifestyle aesthetic than a fashion one. The term comes from a tiktok mentioning basic self-care tips back in January 2020.
The motivational concept proliferated, taking into account how we as humans wanted to better ourselves with the hopes of the pandemic easing out from our lives. Within months, these videos combined the art of journaling, waking up early, making smoothies, skincare tips and working out regularly.
The aesthetic truly triumphed with the algorithm. Easy to view, clean cuts between videos and quick transitions with subtle colors blew up the likeability of the content. That coupled with the inspirational affirmations in the videos turned the trend into a sensation for everyone on short-video platforms.
The Mindset Problem
…and much more.
You can easily be that girl if you have the money. You can easily be that girl if you’re euro-centric (or have similar physical characteristics). You can be that girl if you’re skinny or considerably fit. You can be that girl if all your work is from home (’cause I have never seen any ‘that girl’ commuting to work, knowing how expensive it can be in the countries ‘that girl’ predominantly comes from). You can be that girl if you’re lonely.
Also can we stop with the glow ups please? It is getting annoying with each reel I scroll by. Every other diary entry I catch myself scribbling like a maniac counselor, repeating “You are enough without a glow up, or turning your life upside down.” over and over.
You are allowed to live your day without making a green smoothie which probably tastes like spinach water and you are allowed to workout in your night clothes. You are allowed to have a skincare regimen without that clay face mask cause we all know how abrasive it is to many skin types. You are allowed to live in a small condo which doesn’t have huge clean windows and mirror showpieces and you are allowed to view this article on an iPhone with or without three cameras. You are allowed to wake up late and call it a rest day and feel good about it. You are allowed to live that girl version of yourself.
The Prevalence of a Sect
Why is it that these videos and reels have mostly a skinny white girl documenting her perfect morning routine? She preferably blonde, skinny, looks pretty as per the current euro-centric beauty standards, and she smiles, is oh-so fit, and oh-so god damned happy with her macbook, tumbler glass and steel-straw life.
A simple inspection would reveal that ‘that girl’ follows the paths of the accepted norms of pretty privilege in society, something which is unattainable for many. The prevalence of a first-world country girl, young in her 20s and living the best life makes me question where she got all that money to achieve that? I barely live in a small apartment with five other roommates surviving each day.
Previous Trends and Fails
ModernGurlz pointed out the similarities between that girl and her vintage young counterpart, the VSCO girl, quote “…that girl shares some elements from its 2010 predecessor, the VSCO girl, it is far more elevated in execution.”
From a fashion standpoint, that girl carries a mason jar, a tote bag and uses claw clips, with the VSCO girl falling for hydro flasks (fancy water bottles), seashell chokers and scrunchies in all spectrums possible.
Trends tend to romanticize a particular aspect of life to bring it into the highlight. The question of authenticity arises when we consider that girl to be a romanticization of the mundane tasks of our life. When we think of it, all the tasks ‘that girl’ does are seemingly normal and nothing special. Yet we still wonder if it is the girl, the ambience or the camera setup that makes it special.
Social media perpetuates a perfect ideal of any sense. Yet what is its influence on that girl? Is it a trend outside of the digital screens? It is hard to imagine the trend thriving without the presence of social media. Would anybody be doing it if it weren’t for the camera?
Where does the Trend End?
Although the debate is in the drains, adding my own two cents would hopefully imply a positive notion to that girl. At its core, that girl defines our goals and aims as a community. Thus, to define it in a practical sphere of living, that girl is the mindset to be the best version of yourself. As cliché as it sounds, that girl is the ideal that you as an individual can live the best version of your life. This is where the trend would turn into a classic to look up to.
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