If I could turn back the dials of time, I would rewind it to this past summer. Not only were we blessed with the return of Zendaya & Tom Holland in Spiderman: Far from Home and new releases from cult-favorite Glossier products, but also our fave goddesses from the rap/hip-hop scene dominated the charts. Specifically, the queens of music rose far beyond their male-counterparts, spreading their unapologetic message of embracing one’s own femininity and inner baddie.
Lizzo slaying the jazz flute
Normani’s effortless choreography
Cardi killing the business game
The confidence of these women was infectious and soon, Instagram became flooded with girl’s-night-outs and peachy beach candids with captions of “it’s a hot girl summer”– as coined by the highness herself, Megan Thee Stallion.
Drunk in the free-spiritedness of it all, I didn’t notice the shift in vibes. It started with Insta bios being replaced with university names and graduation dates. Then, class registration opened. And before I could even realize it, I was boarding my plane to Atlanta with Lana Del Rey’s new album, Norman F*cking Rockwell on replay.
Hold up, was my “Hot Girl Summer” over?
At first, I was shocked. I hadn’t laid on the sand in cut-off shorts or even gotten to ride Citi bikes alongside my ride-or-dies. I barely crossed out a few activities from my Pinterest summer-before-college bucket list. Not to mention the flirty hints from a handsome stranger that have now quickly turned into a “what could’ve been”.
Absolutely tragic
But as much as I wanted to cling onto the last slivers of summer, I found myself drifting from it. Lana took me by the hand and led me into the melancholic vibe of her world. I was swaying in the rawness of her voice and the tears finally fell. But I never felt more in touch with my emotions as I did in those moments. In a strange sense, I felt the real me and that’s what being a “Hot Girl” is all about: being true to oneself and embracing one’s vulnerabilities- even if that means crying like a real bad b*tch.
All good things come to an end and it’s for the better. Even if it seems like the end of a killer summer, putting oneself first is a priority. Because in this post-hot-girl-summer season, it’s all about accepting the emotional creature within oneself. And maybe I need that little push- moving far from home- to learn more about myself and build a better relationship with myself.
Most importantly, no one is alone on this “Sad Girl Fall”. So put those photos away; binge-watch your favorite tear-jerkers with friends; and read a good book. Enjoy the little moments!