Image by Dayron Villaverde from Pixabay
By Mariem Abada
From early-morning routines to well-planned days, ‘That girl’ culture has become a significant trend on platforms such as TikTok, promoting productivity and great personal growth. The trend promotes wellness as part of a holistic lifestyle, primarily targeting women as its core audience.
Despite criticism that the trend is really just a way to trigger overconsumption of wellness products, students at Holloway report that it can be both encouraging and pleasurable.
Third-year student Serene, was 21 when she was introduced to the trend online. “I continued watching videos of girls getting up early, going to the gym, journaling, and it all sounded inspirational,” she said. “It caused me to desire having my life together.”
More in control
Serene began to follow a certain routine, which would include going to the gym and mapping out her day. This originally served her well, she said. “I was more in control and felt like I am more put together.”
Yet, despite her love of the lifestyle, she quickly became aware that it was challenging to sustain it long-term. “On other days, you just feel tired or have a lot of things to do, and you cannot do anything. You can go online and think that everyone does it better,” she states.
Shariah Hassan, a first-year student, 19, also reports that the trend at times put a lot of pressure on her. That Girl followers have lives that “must be in order”, she says. “They exercise, go on healthy diets, study all day long, it’s too much to keep up with.”
Shariah says that “it’s hard not to compare yourself even if you try not to, but it still influences your perception of yourself”.
Image by Mariem Abada
Carefully edited images and content
Social media platforms such as Instagram tend to post entirely well-edited images and content such as “day in life videos”, making living the That Girl life look simpler than it actually is.
Lily Thompson, one of the part-time fitness instructors at a north London gym, has observed how these trends have impacted younger customers. “Many students come in with routines that are very specific,” she says, “which they have seen online. Some are good, but that is not always realistic to live it every day.”
She additionally adds that balance is significant. “Good routines are good, however, students also need a rest and to be flexible. Trying to stick to the ideal routine every time could result in being burned out.”
The trick to it is to make the trend conform to the lifestyle of some students. Serene claims that she has become more moderate. “I do not attempt to do everything anymore, she says. I only hold on to the bits that assist me.”
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
Mission or money?
While the trend has its followers, it also has its critics – many of whom say it’s promoting a lifestyle that depends on hard cash – lots of it.
“Her lifestyle content revolves around staying fit, eating organic food, wearing matching outfit sets (probably from hugely exploitative fast-fashion brands), and living in a beautiful apartment,” wrote Poorva Misra-Miller on Medium, in an article titled How Being #That Girl Perpetuates Hustle Culture and Toxic Productivity.
“And yet, despite what she says, #thatgirl is in a supporting role to the real star in her life. Money.”
Shariah said that is more aware of what she sees on the internet. ‘I like the content, yet I do not take it too seriously,’ she says. ‘I simply do what works well with me.’
With the culture of ‘That Girl’ culture becoming a trend, students in Holloway are developing their own methods of indulging in it, inspiringly, where possible, whilst knowing life offline is not necessarily like it is online.
Image by Joey Velasquez from Pixabay
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