From the 2023 Barbie film to GRWM videos to personalized friendship bracelets, hyperfeminity is now celebrated as a form of power and camaraderie. These trends have led to the ubiquity of the “girls’ girl,” typically describing a girl who cherishes her female friendships while expressing herself in a traditionally feminine manner. This label was meant to promote female solidarity, but it often excludes those who fail to meet certain standards (even Mille Bobby Brown wasn’t immune to strangers calling her “not a girls’ girl”). But can we really call ourselves “girls’ girls” if we continue to shame other women… whether they live next door or populate our social media pages?Â
The aforementioned trends subtly reject the notion that femininity is somehow inferior to stereotypical masculine ideals. Trends that promote girlhood and female friendships are intrinsically valuable, but they can’t cure the misogyny that still exists in our society. Disrespecting female celebrities and other public figures isn’t a novel concept, but it becomes especially egregious when women themselves contribute to the bullying. Even if we’ve largely evolved from the body-shaming culture of the 2000s, we still have a long way to go.Â
In 2025, Emily in Paris star Lily Collins faced backlash for using a surrogate to have her daughter Tove. Comments such as “rich people using women as incubators” and “The Handmaid’s Tale: celebrity version” quickly circulated online and essentially accused her of using a surrogate for her own benefit. These commenters attribute Collins’ supposed obsession with her appearance and career as her only reason for using a surrogate. In reality, Collins’ decision was likely rooted in many different factors that may not yet be disclosed to the public.Â
The vitriol towards Collins feels particularly mean-spirited when the star has repeatedly spoken about her past eating disorders and mental health struggles. In her 2017 memoir Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me, she mentions that her eating disorder started at age 16 to give her a form of control after her parents divorced. Scientific research has shown that women with a history of eating disorders are significantly more likely to endure fertility complications such as irregular periods and hormone levels; it’s very possible that she’s struggled with these issues due to her past. We can dissect her decision until we’re blue in the face, but no one is entitled to know the “truth” behind such a personal topic.Â
TV personality Kelly Osbourne is yet another celebrity who has endured significant bullying for her appearance. She made headlines in December 2025 after her dramatic weight loss led critics to call her “ill” and harshly accuse her of taking weight loss drugs. Her rock star father Ozzy Osbourne had recently died, and she attributed her lack of appetite to his death. On multiple occasions, she has called critics “cruel” for chastising her during this extremely difficult circumstance.
Prior to her gastric sleeve surgery in 2018, Osbourne was heavily criticized for being overweight. She has even said that she receives more flack for her weight than her former drug addiction. Although she denied using Ozempic back in 2024, critics continue to deride her for her supposed use of the drug. Whether Osbourne has taken these drugs or not, one thing’s for sure; her body has become reduced to a stream of double standards that declare her as “too fat” or “too skinny.”Â
Beyond traditional celebrities like Collins and Osbourne, female content creators have also faced their fair share of vitriol. There are even designated Reddit “snark” pages that often insult women who choose to present their lives online. Some of these posts rightfully critique the undisclosed ads and dishonesty that can come with influencer culture, but users often make malicious comments about these influencers to prove their points. At a certain point, the seemingly lighthearted act of “snarking” quickly turns into textbook bullying.Â
We don’t need to love every public figure that graces our “For You” page or television screen; regardless of gender, plenty of celebrities have made poor choices and should be held accountable for their actions. However, famous women are still disproportionately affected by public discourse that usually doesn’t correlate with the situation at hand. We must reapproach the way we view these celebrities if we truly want to live in a progressive society.
No one can be perfect, but that doesn’t mean we can’t support each other unconditionally. Expressing our femininity through dresses and makeup may be a meaningful way to protest against patriarchal assertions, but real “girls’ girls” respect other women… no matter how they present themselves on the outside.Â