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Matcha, pilates, slicked buns, perfectly manicured nails. Apparently, these are all the ingredients that go into our ‘it girls’ today. She parties until 4.00 a.m but is also first through the door for her 9.00 a.m. hot yoga class, Prada sunnies on her head. My tone might sound snide, but truly, I mean well.
*This article will mention eating disorders and drug use, just fyi.
Gone are the days of the heroin chic, etched into our brains with smudged black kohl liner and red lipstick. Starting with Gia Caragni in the 70’s up to the 90’s with Kate Moss; the skinny, messy, and wild girl had become posters in teen girls' bedroom walls. The ambassadors of the aesthetic were supermodels who shone in their youthful flush and wilted away from drug use, alcoholism, and depression. These girls, discovered in their vulnerable teen years and signed over to management by neglectful parents, were the rise and fall of abused and used women who were veiled under the label ‘heroin chic’ in the 90’s. Young women around the world whose holy bible was Vogue, fell ill along with the models on the covers. Eating disorders, glamorization of drug use… I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.
British supermodel Dame Lesley was known as 'Twiggy', it girl of the 60's...
Today, supermodels have been swapped for influencers. Yes, we still have our Hadid’s and Jenner’s but the big bucks for advertising have been extended to your average small town girl who shares her makeup routine from her 10m2 bedroom. Or, riding on the most recent wave is the 'clean girl', who shares her vegan grocery hauls, pilates classes, and candle-lit journaling sessions. She is on your Instagram and TikTok, maybe even your moms. This new mod of 'it girl' has had quite the impact, and is maybe a symptom of society healing itself from the toxins leftover from the 90's. Very suddenly the mention of drugs, alcohol, smoking, became very un-chic.
Yes, this new it girl does receive some worthy criticism for creating unrealistic expectations of perfection both on the outside and inside. She promotes eating well and taking care of your skin, but also excelling in work and your social life. It sets the expectation that you should be doing it all, and without complaining . Is she wholly body positive.. I'm not too sure. But is it not better that these girls influencing the younger generations promote wellbeing over unconscious nights spent in some dingy club? Just a thought.
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