A common characteristic of many influencers and videos on TikTok is the need to fit under a specific aesthetic. Each aesthetic has a particular way of dressing, is associated with particular activities, and some even have followers who claim to have similar personality traits. From Cottagecore to Dark Academia, there seems to be a trendy aesthetic for everyone.
The “that girl” trend is not a new trend to the app, gaining attention around April of 2021, but has managed to stay popular, with currently over 9 billion views under the hashtag #thatgirl. With the start of the new year, many people are starting new goals and wanting to make lifestyle changes with the focus of self-improvement. Following the “that girl” trend seems to be the 2023 goal for many TikTok users.
Who is “That Girl”?
“That girl” is not one specific person, but rather think of that one person you know who always seems to have their life together. While the “that girl” trend has a certain look/aesthetic to it, the trend focuses more on lifestyle habits compared to other trends that are more fashion based.
Everyday they get up at 5 AM to exercise, then make themselves avocado toast and an iced matcha latte. She is always ahead on her assignments, and their room is always clean. A common video trend of “that girls” is them grocery shopping and showing the healthy meals they eat in a day, like acai bowls. They have a regular skincare routine that they do every night while drinking their 8th glass of water that day.
The main hobby of “that girls” is typically journaling everyday. Some use journaling as a way to plan and organize their lives while others use it to write about their emotions or manifest. These journal spreads typically include nice handwriting, consistent color palettes, and never feel messy. There are also popular “BookTok” books that if you read, you become “that girl”. These books are typically non-fiction or literary fiction. Some popular authors include Sally Rooney, Ottessa Moshfegh, Eve Babitz, and Joan Didion.
Despite the amount of work some might think it takes to maintain all these habits, the “that girl” always seems effortlessly put together. They wear either workout clothes or sweats that are monochromatic, typically lighter colors like white or pastels, with gold hoop earrings. Makeup is typically minimal because of their clear skin, and using a claw clip is the perfect way to put their hair up.
The Mixed Opinions
A “that girl” trend has received mixed reactions with some praising it for improving their lifestyles while others don’t believe it is healthy. Those who are for the trend say that the trend romanticizes parts of life that are typically overlooked, but can make an improvement, for example grocery shopping compared to going out for food. Those who are against the trend believe that it promotes “hussle culture” and only exists on social media. People only show their best lives on social media and “that girl” influencers are no different. TikTok users may watch these influencers who seem to always have their lives together and feel like they are not doing enough. Even habits that are considered self-care, like extensive skincare routines and journaling, appear to be more like work than ways to relax.
The Takeaway
The problem with many TikTok aesthetics including the “that girl” is the idea that you need to change your entire life to follow it. The lifestyles presented online are typically not realistic and most people typically do not follow just one aesthetics. However, instead of focusing on copying an entire lifestyle, TikTok users should focus on choosing one or two habits to include in their daily routine. Some “that girl” habits that people might consider include getting up at the same time everyday to improve sleep routine or journaling everyday to become more aware of their mental health.