Picture this: You’ve applied to your dream internship. After weeks of crafting the perfect application, you round up all of your courage and apply — just to get denied. You’re sad, of course, but then you remember it’s “plot girl summer,” and everything suddenly makes sense.
This TikTok trend is the way Gen Z is approaching summer 2022 — and possibly every season after that. Did you not get your dream internship? It’s part of the plot of the movie! Or, in better words, part of the plot of your life. It just means things are about to get interesting! TikTok creator Serena Kerrigan, who popularized the term, explained in a May 22 video that this year’s summer trend is basically an appreciation for the random, unplanned, and sometimes even disappointing occurrences of life. Not getting your dream internship is, at the very least, annoying, but accepting an offer to another internship program or even having an entire summer just for yourself, in your own company, can be part of your plot!
Plot girl summer is all about making life interesting, just like one of your favorite movies or series. And even though you won’t (thankfully) fight Vecna to the sound of Kate Bush a la Stranger Things, your life still has lots of potential for an interesting plot. Plot girl summer is all about perceiving unplanned moments and situations in your life knowing that they add to your plot, but it’s also about taking risks to make it interesting just in case it’s not movie material just yet.
Other creators have jumped on the idea of plot girl summer in their own videos: Creator @koree_margaret kick-started her plot girl summer by accepting an invitation to a date with someone she matched with on Hinge. @halleykate is also planning on taking many risks this plot girl summer season, which includes approaching cute guys at the bar and spontaneous trips to the Bahamas. @anasofiagmza believes that it’s all about saying “yes” to opportunities that align with the person you want to be, and it’s also about accepting that you’re on the right path, even if what you planned firsthand didn’t exactly work out in your way — better things are coming!
A great example of someone being the main character of their life and nailing plot girl summer? Kim Kardashian. @lexniko explained in a TikTok that she believes that the influencer and businesswoman is having her best plot girl summer yet by pulling fashionable looks and having the time of her life with Mr. Staten Island, her boyfriend Pete Davidson. Plot girl summer, at the end of the day, is all about having fun and taking risks. It’s better than the hot girl summer of years past because we’re focusing on our overall happiness and not just on our looks. The #plotgirlsummer hashtag has more than 2 million views so far, and includes various videos from creators living their best lives. Do you want inspiration for your next plot girl summer-inspired adventure? You’ll find it there, for sure.
Therapist Daniel Chan, CTO of Marketplace Fairness, believes that plot girl summer can even be beneficial to people’s mental health. “Plot girl summer can help you learn to live more in the present. When you’re focused on the plot of your life, you’re less likely to get caught up in the small things that often don’t matter,” he tells Her Campus. Chan also trusts that this TikTok trend can help Gen Z to take more risks by trying to experience movie-like scenarios. “By stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying new things, you may find that you’re more fulfilled in life,” he adds.
So, plot girl summer is waiting for you! It’s now just up to you to decide what movie-like scenario you prefer and which one will make your plot more interesting. Is it a Mamma Mia! summer you desire? You might want to book a trip to Greece. Plot girl summer can be whatever you want; it’s a season of understanding that good things are coming, taking risks, and most importantly, being happy. Can’t wait to see you on my FYP with your plot girl summer stories!