How do you want to spend your summer? You can either spend it sweat-free and isolated in air-conditioned comfort, or you can head outside and embrace “hot girl summer” — an empowering be- and do-you mantra that’s quickly taking over social media.
Unlike 2018’s “big d–k energy” or “#BDE” — a cultural phenomenon in subtle male confidence that arose from Ariana Grande tweeting about the 10 inches her then-fiancé Pete Davidson allegedly packs under his trunks — 2019’s #HotGirlSummer is about flaunting what you’ve got with no apologies.
The term may sound basic, but it has specific origins and a mindset to match.
According to Glamour, it traces its roots to Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion, whose recently released “Cash S–t” song opens with the words “Real hot girl s–t.” Combined with the cover of the May-dropped “Fever” album, which shows Stallion dressed in a two-piece leopard look while surrounded by flames — and next to her, text that reads “She’s thee hot girl and she’s bringing thee heat” — a rallying cry was born.
In an interview with the Root in June, Stallion explained matters further.
“It’s just basically about women — and men — just being unapologetically them, just having a good-ass time, hyping up your friends, doing you, not giving a damn about what nobody got to say about it,” she said. “You definitely have to be a person that can be the life of the party, and, y’know, just be a bad bitch.”
Stallion played a concert in London in July, and Vice UK headed over to ask attendees what they thought hot girl summer means. One woman told the publication, “Girl, it’s hoe szn. Period. What makes a hot girl summer? Your attitude and your vibe. It’s 2019 — a year for women to do what they want to do.”
Indeed, search “HotGirlSummer” on Twitter, and the bulk of tweets show women doing precisely that.
One user, named Regina, posted before and after photos of a recent nose job, saying “#hotgirlsummer has officially begun.”
Another user, named Neyda, posted a selfie alongside an image that shows the dictionary definition of insouciant — or free from worry, concern or anxiety.
“I mean that’s the goal right?” she said.
Yet another, named Renee, tweeted four images of herself in a neon-yellow bikini top captioned “body positive.”
Similarly, Alexsa Marie uploaded two photos of herself in a bathing suit saying, “my body is an hourglass, I just have extra minutes.”
As Glamour puts it, it’s about a person owning their power, sexuality and freedom.
It raises the question as to whether this movement is a fad — but one tweet exclaims it shouldn’t be.
“[H]ot girl s–t isn’t JUST a summer thing. It’s a lifestyle. Like Hot girls not just hot girls in the summer boo. They are hot girls in the summer, spring, winter and fall. It’s an energy you encompass.”