Written by Charlotte Langan
From what feels like the beginning of time, women have been held to certain standards, changing rapidly
with each era. Now, in the 21st century, we have the “Clean Girl” aesthetic: a look and lifestyle based on
minimalism, natural beauty, and fitness. An aesthetic I would deem unattainable is a trend followed by
millions. The refined, perfectionist vibe feels painstakingly performative, with only the true
imperfections hidden behind the camera lens.
Social media isn’t genuine, and the “Clean Girl” aesthetic fits that bill. Waking up early, working out,
eating well and remaining productive all the time is highly unrealistic. College women, specifically, do
struggle with work-life balance, including myself! While managing studying, nights out and fitness,
something always gives. An authentic college girl may not have the motivation to wake up at 6 am to go
for her 10k run or pilates class. (Especially if she was out the night before until 3 am.) The harsh
standards of young women drinking chai water and doing hot yoga is nothing compared to a Redbull
before a 9 am lecture, so I can survive the day. Laziness isn’t on a “Clean Girl’s” agenda, which downplays
any student. Society treats laziness like a crime, though no one died from ordering pizza instead of
spending 40 minutes cooking. Balancing all those ‘requirements’ of being a wellness-focused girl is
exhausting and impractical!
Unfortunately, this trend is entirely inaccurate to the issues us girls face monthly. I rarely see any “Clean
Girls” mentioning the phases during our menstrual cycle when we aren’t as physically or mentally able to
commit to such strenuous things. I struggle myself with motivation, and our cycle certainly doesn’t help
us remain productive and energetic. Especially during our luteal and menstruation phases, when we
need to rest and regenerate. No woman should be expected to perform strongly during such times when
our estrogen is so low! Considering it’s an important part of girlhood and womanhood, it should be
advertised more with the “Clean Girl” aesthetic, or any trend involving women.
For any college student, money and budgeting are hot topics. Clearly, the “Clean Girl” aesthetic ignores
that entirely. Its focus on expensive skincare and sportswear, which all needs to fit under the neutral,
simplistic aesthetic, is simply unreasonable for us to worry about! Not every girl can afford Lululemon
leggings or a gym membership. What is more important to many women these days than education? The
“Clean Girl” outlook paints women as if they have nothing but extra hours to dedicate to making healthy
meals that cost a fortune. Everyone knows that healthy eating is key, and I’m far from against that. As a
college student, it’s simply hard to always buy the expensive healthy options, instead of heading to the
local chipper for something quick.
Although, one thing I love about the “Clean Girl” vibe is its embrace of natural beauty. There’s nothing I
appreciate more than a woman who is comfortable in her natural, gorgeous self. Unfortunately, there are
many flaws to this ‘natural beauty’. The skin advertised is mainly ‘glass skin’, no blemishes or
discolouration, which is also painfully unrealistic. To apparently be part of the trend, you must have a
perfect complexion, when acne and pores should be normalised. We all experience breakouts, creating
more absurd beauty standards. It’s costly to keep skin clear, whether that be skincare, food or cosmetic
enhancements. Filters and editing are heavily used across social media, and the “Clean Girl” aesthetic
isn’t shy of it. You’re beautiful just the way you are; don’t let any trend or aesthetic convince you
otherwise.
The beauty standards that the “Clean Girl” aesthetic creates, like the ‘pilates princess’ body: lean and
thin, which can create unnecessary expectations for us as women. We naturally store fat more than men,
especially on our stomachs to protect our uterus. Fat is not a bad thing, nor does it make you uglier the
more you have. I have struggled with body image, and many other girls have too. With this aesthetic
trending, skinny, fit bodies are standardised for women. Society has a strong record of creating
impossible standards that don’t define us but are held as of high importance in our lives.
This neutral, minimalist trend diminishes many college girls, too demanding to be expected of us all. We
deserve to shine our own colours and not feel pressured by society’s ideas of what a woman should be.
You don’t need to do anything to become more of a woman; you already are.