TREND DEEP DIVES
What does the word “summer” mean to you?
From ice cream trucks and pool parties to backyard barbecues and a sunset on the beach, countless cliches like these may have made up our summers growing up. Now, though, summertime seems more and more like a huge event you’re supposed to spend months getting ready for–a season where everyone should be living (and looking!) our best.
Just think: by the time April rolls around, how many fitness gurus urge us to roll out our yoga mats or hit the gym to tone, melt fat, and sculpt yourself into that perfect bikini body? Or the Pinterest boards promising the perfect summer bucket lists you wouldn’t want to miss? And who could forget the tempting purchases piling up in your online shopping carts–because what’s the point of entering a new season if you don’t curate an entirely new wardrobe, right?
Come June, you’re bombarded with aesthetically pleasing vacation vlogs, highlight reels, sunkissed Instagram pics and so on as you scroll enviously on your couch–wondering why everyone else seems to be living out their #HotGirlSummer to the fullest, while your life pales in comparison.
This is what I call the Hot Girl Summer epidemic–something that's dominated the Gen Z & Millennial side of the Internet for years. In this video, we’ll be covering the origins–and wide-spread misinterpretations–of Hot Girl Summer. What exactly does it mean to have one? And why might its changing definitions be so problematic?
Tracing its roots
The phrase “Hot Girl Summer” was coined circa 2019 when rap icon Megan Thee Stallion released a song with the same title. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you might know Megan as one of the hottest stars today, with viral songs like “Savage,” “Body,” and “WAP” trending catchy dances and slang all over social media. Her signature tagline, “real hot girl sh*t,” has become synonymous with her reputation for promoting female empowerment while embracing authenticity.
“Hot Girl Summer” (feat. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign) is no different: at one glance the lyrics exude an unbothered attitude towards the male gaze, refusing to let her relationships confine her–much less define her worth. “Handle me?” Megan scoffs 30 seconds in. “Who gon’ handle me?”
While this may seem like your usual “baddie” anthem–with classic nods towards party culture and celebrating one’s sexuality–what makes “Hot Girl Summer” so interesting is when Nicki quips, “Who gon’ tell him that my b*tch is getting her degree?” Megan later adds that she’s a “college girl, but a freak on the weekend–” both women adding nuance to the stereotypical image of what we think a “hot girl” can be. By juxtaposing promiscuity with intellect, Megan shatters the one-dimensional judgements that often constrict women in media and society.
As Megan herself explains, the song really boils down to “women–and men–just being unapologetically them,” and “just having a good-a** time.”
So what’s so wrong with an empowering message like that? Nothing–but like so many trends that aim to uplift “strong independent women,” the catchphrase “Hot Girl Summer” has gone through the social media wringer and come out the other side as something far from Megan’s original intentions.
Just look at what happens when you type Hot Girl Summer into Pinterest, Tiktok, Instagram, and Youtube (you know, the board of directors for most of Gen Z’s life decisions): Workout routines guaranteed to turn you into a Victoria’s Secret Model in 2 weeks, videos promising dramatic transformations in 24 hours, friends competing to hookup with as many people as possible…of course, there’s nothing wrong with dressing up, wanting to look your best, and just living it up while you’re young.
But–just like the transient “That Girl,” “Girlboss,” or “Clean Girl” aesthetics–when the algorithm begins pushing the same body types, skin tones, and lifestyles under the guise of a “Hot Girl’s” summer checklist, it becomes all too easy for us to perpetuate a singular, whitewashed image of perfection.
As a result, Hot Girl Summer now revolves around hookup culture, consumerism, and unrealistic glow-up regimes. It becomes all the more problematic when you consider the ages of pop culture’s most avid consumers–kids as young as 9 or 10.
Social Performativity
It wasn’t always like this–or was it?
Some might say the Hot Girl Summer phenomenon is linked to society’s ongoing obsession with glow-ups–another trend that exploded after riding the tail end of Vine’s “Don’t Judge Me Challenge” way back in 2016. Viners would draw spots and marks imitating acne or facial hair, sporting glasses and blackening their teeth before cutting to a more made-up, “glowed-up” version of themselves. Although these cringeworthy caricatures of stereotypically “unattractive” features have been called out and condemned (as they should), our fixation on these dramatic transformations doesn’t seem to have changed.
Sure, there are many earnest creators who really are just trying to promote long-term, healthy lifestyle changes, but this doesn’t change the fact that as viewers, our short attention spans crave immediate gratification. After all, how tempting is it to instantly skip to the results–be it with thirst traps, weight loss vlogs, or glow-up challenges? Just read some of the most popular video thumbnails tagged under Hot Girl Summer:
“Transforming into a bad bleep for hot girl summer: I got a lot of work done!” “Affordable glow-up for hot girl summer (Extreme 12-hour transformation).”
“Spending $1000 to glow up (extreme 24 hour).”
See, the appeal of Hot Girl Summer no longer lies in cultivating self-growth and individuality–it lies in the belief that you can and should completely mold yourself into this one standard just to merit the title of a “hot girl.” These hundreds and thousands of views stem from wanting to live vicariously through creators who have the money and resources to look and act a certain way.
Likewise, if the results aren’t satisfying enough, views, clicks, and profits plummet. It’s no secret that once you add social media into the equation, even the most empowering statement can become commodified & standardised just to cater to the algorithm. Even if you want to share your glow-up journey, the “correct” path to get there now seems incredibly narrow–with the standard of what your final look should live up to more curated than ever.
Ultimately, these videos breed the misconception that attaining these goals is possible in a crazy short period, when in reality, healthy change and lasting growth needsto take root over a longer span of time. Before their induced glow-ups, for instance, these bloggers often make self-deprecating comments about their current appearance, be it calling themselves “crusty,” or “mentally & physically tired,” with even Emma Chamberlain crying inexplicably during her own “Hot Girl” transformation.
While we all know changing your appearance can give you a tremendous boost of self-confidence, what’s more important is your ability to consistently maintain this appearance. The truth is that no amount of lash extensions, gel tips, or self-tanner can make up for unhealthy habits or mindsets. And if we’re all tuning into the same prescribed standards of what Hot Girl Summer should look like–are we really listening to our bodies and what’s best for us?
Girl on Girl Crime
Sure enough, by 2020, people began catching onto “Hot Girl Summer’s” descent into superficiality. Hit songs like Blackbear’s “hot girl bummer” became a cynical spinoff of the phrase, calling it out for prioritising online appearances over mental health. And because there’s no better domain for subversive takes to spread like wildfire than social media, users were quick to mobilise and shoot the term down.
“I’m having a healthy girl summer,” one girl wrote defiantly in her vlog, filled with mindfulness and self-discovery tips.
“This>>> Hot Girl Summer,” several others added proudly, compiling photos of bookstores and jam-packed reading lists.
But what does this mean for Megan’s original meaning of a “hot girl” – now come under fire and controversy? Are we really implying that women are so one-dimensional they can’t be booksmart and party-loving? Reactions like these only go to show just how badly the original message behind “Hot Girl Summer” has been misinterpreted. What’s particularly sad is that trends sparked by Black women almost always become oversexualized and associated with promiscuity instead of true empowerment and authentic self-love–the original themes at the core of Megan’s songwriting.
If we’re too quick to shoot down “Hot Girl Summer’s” previous connotations, we just might find ourselves back at square one–still feeding into misogynistic stereotypes that condemn one style of femininity while glorifying another. What makes this entire dilemma so ironic is that despite trying to escape the confines of the male gaze, we’ve nevertheless continued to to gravitate towards internalised patriarchal norms to regulate our bodies, diets, and attitudes. For a term that stemmed from not caring what others think, it’s become incredibly dependent on showcasing an aestheticised lifestyle just to gain others’ approval.
Real Hot Girl Sh*t
So–deep dive and critical thinking aside–the real question is: how can I have an actual hot girl summer?
Maybe the key to owning your summer comes from dispelling all the obligations and preconceived notions we’ve always associated the season with: there’s no point working for a certain body or wardrobe or bucket list if these goals are set by societal expectations instead of your own volition. “Hot Girl Summer” was a term meant to be personalised to fit each and every person’s path to self-discovery and expression. After all, if you don’t love yourself at all the cycles your body goes through, your confidence will also be conditional.
It’s all easier said than done–but as Youtuber Madisyn Brown advises, the goal is to know yourself first before you can understand what your soul truly needs. “Spending time alone is the best way to get to know yourself,” she explains. That way, you learn to listen to your body, instead of the white noise of social media.
Key takeaways? Just as there shouldn’t be an exclusive standard of beauty, there’s never going to be a surefire formula to live your life or “glow up.” “Hot girls” might read books and stay in; they might party all night and walk to class hungover in the morning; they might have several partners or prefer none at all. Because at its core, a “Hot Girl Summer” is one where inner growth comes first and foremost–and that radiant glow is soon to follow.
Like Megan said, it’s all about “[being] you, just having fun. Turning up, driving the boat and not giving a damn about what nobody got to say.” We’re not defined by relationship status, body count, sexuality, or looks: TL;DR, it really is just doing summer your way.
So while summer’s still hot–it’s time to think about what “Hot Girl Summer” means to you!