im not that girl and neither are you

that girlI’m Not and

Neither are you

Most have been acquainted with the online persona of “That Girl.” She gets up at 5 a.m., drinks a green juice, heads to the gym, makes a lean breakfast and accomplishes a month’s amount of work in 12 hours, all while wearing a perfectly styled outfit in a perfectly clean house.

The “That Girl” aesthetic has become the goal for many. And while this may push the implementation of healthy habits, it also creates unrealistic expectations of a life with no room to breathe. Human beings are not meant to function like robots who follow the same routine every single day. This idea that people are supposed to look perfect and make perfect decisions all the time isn’t inspiring or motivating, it can be debilitating. 21

Style: Tori Gardocki & Lane Pruban Glam: Madison Girodat Photo: Lindsey Grimes, Megan Rabaut Writers: Tori Gardocki Model: Maya Abbasi22

People can take care of themselves and still sleep in. They can hit the gym during the week and take a break on the weekends. It is possible to eat outside of a regimented diet or have a messy room and still lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

There is no denying that, from the outside, being “That Girl” is desirable. She seems to have life all figured out. But what about when the camera is off? The whole reason this aesthetic is so fascinating is because it’s not normal. Social media has caused us to not only idealize celebrities, but also average people. We believe that this way of living is the new normal and that if we can’t achieve this lifestyle, it’s because we’re just not good enough to pull it off.

The central idea of being “That Girl” is that it is easy to film freshly washed sheets, a clean apartment, and a perfect, home-cooked meal. What’s not easy, and what’s not often shared, are the nights where nothing gets cooked or cleaned, but cheap takeout gets spilled on the couch. Even those who are “That Girl” on Instagram cannot keep up this image every day, and this truth makes it even more unrealistic for their followers to match their on-camera persona.

Being “That Girl” isn’t all that. The best days in life are often those that are unexpected. When friends randomly hang out and end up on an unforgettable adventure. Or when the weather wrecks plans, and the day is spent inside and in bed watching treasured films after getting soaked in the rain. If all that time was spent controlling every aspect of life, these beautiful spontaneous moments wouldn’t be possible. Life is not meant to be carefully crafted or manipulated, it is also messy and uncontrollable.

“That Girl” is just the latest rendition of an “It Girl,” which society is constantly changing. Just a few short years ago, Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex in the City” was the ultimate “It Girl,” and she put sweaters in her oven. Then there was Paris Hilton, the “It Girl” famous for her late nights and wild behaviors. Just like trends, these aesthetics come and go in terms of popularity. Take what you love from each “It Girl”, but make it your own and stay true to yourself.

Maybe there is a little bit of “That Girl” in everyone. Not in the desire to reach a perfect ideal, but in a way that highlights the beauty in everyone — even the messy, uncontrollable parts.