If you’re on TikTok you probably know about “that girl.” “That girl” is a type of a girl who has her life together. She is portrayed as someone who is consistently working out, studying, hanging out with her friends, all while waking up at 5:00 a.m. and working two jobs. That might be an exaggeration but you get the point.
There seems to be some controversy around the trend lately. Many are calling the trend unhealthy, while others are saying the trend encourages people to build healthy habits and be the best version of themselves.
I asked four different girls about their opinions on the “that girl” trend.
Q: What do you think about the “That Girl” trend?
- Samantha Davis, a sophomore at the University of Kansas, said, “In my view, the ‘that girl’ trend is an archetype of a girl who prioritizes her mental, emotional and physical health in an aesthetically pleasing and minimalistic venture. I believe it’s a good trend because it values an overall healthy lifestyle in an attainable manner for most females.”
- Kaylee Baker, a sophomore at the University of Kansas, said, “I think it’s toxic because it promotes a lifestyle that’s not realistic. I think it’s very unrealistic and something that makes people feel ‘less than.'”
- Anika Kieler, a sophomore at the University of Kansas, took a different stance and talked about creators producing “that girl” content: “I think for some people it can be really good, but I also think there are unintended consequences associated with that. People might commit to it, find it’s not healthy but feel obligated to continue for views and recognition.”
- Paige Liston, a sophomore at the University of Kansas, talked about the pressure it puts on other women: “It’s bad because it puts weight on other women to be perfect like ‘that’ girl and they cover their true self to become this person that society puts on them.”
COnclusion
Similar to most trends, “that girl” started with pure intentions, with simple goals like read more, go on walks and get your recommended hours of sleep. It’s about bettering yourself and reaching your goals. The problem starts arising when toxic diet culture and hatred start ingraining itself into what it means to be “that girl.”
At the end of the day, we should all strive to be our best self. That means something different for everybody. If that means you wake up at 5 a.m. and make homemade green juice that’s great, but if it doesn’t that also great. How do you feel about the “that girl” trend?
