That Girl (Trend)
The "That Girl" aesthetic consists of an individual who takes care of themselves and puts an emphasis on wellness in all aspects of their lives (mental health, fitness, nutrition, interpersonal relations, etc.)[1]. It is most often targeted to women, although not exclusive to women.
History
[edit]The social media trend “That Girl” first originated on TikTok in 2021, by user Angelxadvice who shared their objectives for the new year; eating more fruit and vegetables, as well as reading more books. It was only in Spring of 2021 that the term gained popularity, and became the norm for fitness, wellness influencers a like. Content regarding this aesthetic is seen on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest through various formats including short form videos, extended vlogs, curated Pinterest boards, etc.
The vlog component is especially popular, as it can demonstrate the ideal day of a “That Girl”, bringing in the “day in my life” compellation videos. It can also focus on a specific part of the day, either with a detailed morning routine, night routine or fitness routine.
Morning Routine
[edit]“That Girl” morning routine begins at the crack of dawn, with routines typically beginning at 5 AM. The reason behind this philosophy being that waking up early allows for more personal time before day-to-day obligations (school, work). Favored activities practiced in the morning include; affirmations, meditation, journaling, stretching, exercise and consuming a healthy well-balanced breakfast.
Night Routine
[edit]That Girl nighttime routine has various components. Much like the morning routine, it must be exercised at a slower pace and properly enjoyed. Some activities proposed during this relaxation state include; journaling, reading, yoga, meditation, skincare, or connecting with loved ones. That Girl individuals are also encouraged to avoid using technologies an hour before bed to avoid blue light as it can disturb the sleep cycle. Adherents to the trend have an earlier bedtime, ranging from 8:30pm to 10pm to get in a proper amount of sleep, regardless of waking up earlier than the norm.
Health Habits
[edit]Fitness Routine
[edit]
Popular forms of fitness within this trend are often sports that can be practiced alone, or in pairs. Yoga, Pilates, Walking (see Hot Girl Walk[2]) and Running were first associated to the trend in 2021, as accessibility to gym spaces were restrained due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Swimming, Tennis and Pickleball were later added to the trend in 2024, popularized by the film Challengers (2024) and the Paris 2024 Olympics. For those who practice Yoga and Pilates, That Girl practitioners are encouraged to partake in classes at their local Yoga or Pilates studios or watch fitness content via YouTube with creators like Move with Nicole, Blogilates,[3] Yoga with Adrienne, Edyn Loves Life, Yoga with Bird[4]
Diet
[edit]The That Girl diet, much like the lifestyle, is one that is balanced, both in healthiness and sweetness. Many in the community adhere to a Mediterranean diet, consisting mostly of fresh produce, bread and fish or plant-based protein.
In the mornings, it is suggested that individuals start their day with a smoothie, coffee or matcha tea. As for food, the smoothie bowl, granola/oats with yogurt[5], fruits, eggs as well as avocado toast are prominent at the crack of dawn.
For lunch and dinner time, panini wraps, salads, salmon, buddha bowls[6], sandwiches are popular. To accompany the main course, vegetables, naan bread and humus (or tzatziki sauce) are often added for filling purposes. In recent years, the meal has often been carried in matching container sets, promoted by various influencers or placed in bento boxes for practical purposes.
Beauty Habits
[edit]Fashion
[edit]Style within this trend is axed towards comfort and an active lifestyle. Joggers, jeans, athleisure and crop tops are some of the key clothing features. Colours tend to be neutral, consisting of black, white, grey, beige, brown but with accent colours, often green.
Heels are often swapped out for in demand sneakers, which can be attributed to the active lifestyle promoted by the trend.[7] Such shoes include the New Balance 550s, New Balance 530s, Adidas Original Gazelles, Onitsuka Tiger 66s, Converse Platforms or Converse Run Star Hike High Top. As for sandals, Birkenstocks Arizona,[8] and (later) Boston models have gained traction in recent years.
Entertainment
[edit]Music
[edit]To be considered That Girl music, songs must promote main character energy[9] and be empowering.
Podcasts
[edit]Podcast listening is especially popular within the trend as it allows one to stay up to date with current events, discover new interests, as well as encourage one’s personal development, whether it be on a business or personal level. Some key podcast creators[10] often associated with the trend include;
- Life with Marianna with Marianna Hewitt
- Unf*ck Your Brain with Kara Loewentheil
- What We Said with Jaci Marie and Chelsy Jade
- The Wellness Cafe with Trinity Tondeleir
- Financial Feminist with Tori Dunlap
- For You, From Eve with Olivia Eve Shabo
Books
[edit]The trend's litterature focuses largely on self help books, although any kind of reading is encouraged. GlamourousGirlGuide[11] suggests the following books to enter the That Girl sphere, tackling personal development.
101 Essays that will Change the way You Think by Brianna Wiest
When You're Ready, This is How you Heal by Brianna Wiest
The Nice Girl Syndrome by Beverly Engel
The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery by Brianna Wiest
The Courage To Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
The "Bad" Girl's Guide To Better: A stealth-help guide to getting your act together by Casey Beros
Ted Talks
[edit]In the same mindset as books, impactful speaches are also very solicitated by the trend. GlamourousGirlGuide on Pinterest lists these Ted Talk as That Girl content.[12][13]
"Change Your Mindset, Change The Game" by Dr. Alia Crum
"Emotional Intelligence Using the Laws of Attraction" by Dr. Ivan Young
"How to Make Stress Your Friend" by Kelly McGonigal
"How to Stop Your Thought From Controlling Your Life" by Albert Hobohm
"The Magic of Not Giving a f***" by Sara Knight
"The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg
"The Power of Seduction In Our Everyday lives" by Beatrice Kamau
"The Skill of Self Confidence" by Dr. Ivan Joseph
"The Space Between Self-Esteem and Self-Compassion" by Kristin Neff
"What Does It Take to Change A Mind" by Lucinda Beaman
"Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are" by Amy Cuddy
"6 steps to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence" by Ramona Hacker
Criticisms
[edit]Many people[who?] online have criticized the trend to be highly unrealistic for the average individual. Indeed, many content creators making That Girl content are young, often white women attending post-secondary education. It does not consider those who have added responsibilities, such as parenthood, nor those who do not have the option of having a consistent work schedule thus making it harder for some to apply a routine and follow it consistently. For this reason, the trend caters to a privileged audience, rejecting many who do not fit the mold.
However, the notions and mindsets conveyed within the trend are free to be applied by anyone wanting self-improvement and can be done at the time of their choosing.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Sharma, Ruchira. "Who Is 'That Girl' & Why Is TikTok Obsessed With Her?". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ "Hot Girl Walk", Wikipedia, 2024-09-17, retrieved 2024-10-23
- ^ "Best Pilates YouTube channels". www.thoughtleaders.io. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ O'Brien, Ellen (2023-04-19). "11 Best Yoga YouTube Channels". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ Slow, Alexi (August 8, 2023). ""That Girl" Healthy Breakfast Ideas!". Lemon8 App.
- ^ Keara Callahan (2022-08-19). THAT GIRL WHAT I EAT IN A WEEK | healthy & easy recipes, balanced & intuitive eating w/o restriction. Retrieved 2024-10-29 – via YouTube.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Cary, Alice (2023-06-03). "How Birkenstock's Arizonas Went From Being Sold Exclusively In Health-Food Stores To A Fashion Editor Staple". British Vogue. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Chayka, Kyle (2021-06-23). "We All Have "Main-Character Energy" Now". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "Podcasts That Will Help You Become". Threads. 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "Pin by serene charm on Pins by you in 2024 | Psychology books, Books to read, Healing books". Pinterest. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "TED talks to become that girl in 2024 | Ted talks, Ted talks motivation, Self improvement tips". Pinterest. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "Ted talks to become that girl in 2024 | Ted talks motivation, Ted talks, Self improvement". Pinterest. Retrieved 2024-11-05.