Whether from the beginning, to the end, or right in the middle of stardom, fangirls have run the world of celebrities. Mainly singers, but also significant actors, are sprinkled into Planet Fangirl as usual. Sometimes singers, like Niall Horan, say that fangirls are the people who pay their bills and allow them to have the unusual jobs that they do. So, I would say that fangirls and the community that they build in real life and online are much bigger than what made them fangirls in the first place.Â
My roommate and I have had numerous conversations about when the fangirl part of our personalities began. So many of our closest friendships have thrived off of fawning over singers or actors, and there’s something fun about it. It is important to find community, and being a fangirl is one with many groups that are open to anyone with many interests. I think we can feel so lonely in this world that having people to connect with, even over one thing, can make us feel part of something big and sometimes even less “weird”. For lack of better words, it’s just nice to know that our interests are someone else’s as well.Â
For me, middle school was the peak fangirl era, there were so many groups or bands that people loved. Groups like One Direction and Fifth Harmony had pop music wrapped around their fingers. Stepping into middle school is such an awkward time for a new teen, especially as a girl. There are so many things you aren’t aware of in the world that are now new fears and just uncomfortable situations. Finding places where you felt in control of what you were doing or a sense of peace was super important, for many fangirls at this time, it was Wattpad.Â
I can’t even begin to describe the influence Wattpad not only had on me but many other girls my age. If you aren’t aware and didn’t have this canon event, Wattpad is an app made for writing, however, the writing it is famous for is fan fiction. The genre is kind of self-explanatory. I will admit, embarrassingly, that many of my nights in middle school were spent reading these stories, often finishing them in one go. Despite how embarrassing it is to admit this, I won’t deny how much I miss those times.Â
Within those nights of endless chapters, it was paired with comfort. For a new teenage girl stepping into this new world of periods, societal standards, and boys, it was heaven to fall into a fictional world where female characters were cared about and where there were authors not too much older than us. Thinking of it now at an older age, it is empowering to think that these teenage/young adult fangirl authors aren’t afraid to write about their thoughts and just have the freedom to create a fictional world based on their wants and needs. Authors who are women, on Wattpad, ao3, and even those who have written real novels (shoutout Emily Henry), have definitely influenced a girl’s/women’s view on relationships and created higher standards for the type of men we women want. I honestly think it’s a good thing.Â
There’s a saying on social media for men like Harry Styles or Paul Mescal– “Men written by women.” Obviously, we only know so much about them from what is portrayed through the media, but based on their actions we can see, so many girls and women find them to be gentlemen-like and find the actions they do to be of value. It is important to know what we want, and many of the traits we want are often found in these men who are actually written by women in novels or fanfictions.Â
Despite how weird it may seem to others, I love being a fangirl! To me, being a fangirl has brought me friendships that have flourished, a community I feel comfortable with, and where I can find relatability. There is much more to being a fangirl than just supporting someone, there is so much feeling involved, and it’s so exciting.Â
Fangirls truly are forever.Â