TikTok aesthetics — whether you like the app or not, you know of them. In the Know, a media site, describes “aesthetics” as being “the Gen Z-friendly term for highly stylized visual trends.” They’re visual mood boards that inspire fashion trends and ways of life — cottagecore, dark academia, and more. One such aesthetic is “that girl,” and while it has the power to encourage others to pursue a better lifestyle, it also unknowingly paints an unattainable image that embeds itself into capitalist culture.
Let me paint the picture for who “that girl” is: she’s the chick who starts her day at 5:00 a.m. with a skin care routine, a workout in her Lululemons, and a green smoothie bowl. She proceeds with the rest of her morning routine — and she definitely has one — that might include journaling, meditation, or creating a to-do list before sitting down to study at her pastel-coloured desk. Her notes are immaculate, clean, and neat — just like her. By the end of the day, she’s crossed everything off her list and still has time to dive into a book. She’s called “that girl” because people notice how put together she is; she’s the best version of you.
Maybe it’s common sense to know that aesthetics perfectly encapsulate an idealized vision — not necessarily one that’s realistic. But it bears to point out the obvious because “that girl” relies so heavily on health and productivity. No one will ever be “that girl.” She isn’t real, and anyone trying to sell you on being “that girl” is carefully curating their image on Instagram or TikTok. The reason why she doesn’t exist is because it’s exhausting to uphold; there’s no room in “that girl’s” routine for binging on ice cream, mental illness, getting ghosted by crusty boys, or waking up at 1:00 p.m. on a weekday. There’s no room to be human.
Furthermore, “that girl” relies on performative actions. As it’s been pointed out in the comment sections of “that girl” guides on YouTube, “that girl” is inspiring as an aesthetic because it involves having a mindset geared toward self-help, self-improvement, and self-care. Everyone wants to be a better person tomorrow than they were today and to work toward being their best self. But there’s a difference between adopting the mindset of working on yourself and adopting the image of working on yourself. The name “that girl” implies that she’s publicly acknowledged for what she is; her success hinges on being seen. The aesthetic involves crafting “Instagrammable” moments that can be viewed on a social media feed, without any of the bloopers or less-than-perfect moments. If “that girl” exists but no one’s around to see her, does she even exist?
Now comes the fun part: digesting how heavily the aesthetic relies on productivity. “That girl” is essentially repackaging hustle culture but with a prettier, feminine twist. There’s no time to waste in her routines, and even leisure activities are timed and measured. The Concordian describes hustle culture as “the social pressure to constantly be working harder, faster, and stronger in every area of our lives. It’s the idolization of workaholism.” This feeds into toxic capitalism, where one believes their worth is defined by their work ethic rather than their inherent value as a human being. The problem is that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you endlessly pursue productivity, eventually something has to give — whether that be your physical health, mental health, or precious hours of sleep. This is never reflected by “that girl” or her aesthetic. She’s the grind without any of the mess or hassle that comes with it.
If you think that anyone who criticizes this aesthetic is only hating on it because they’re bitter, here’s the truth: I’ve always wanted to be “that girl.” But I realized it was unattainable and that I don’t have to be her in order to find success, happiness, or good grades. I may have a 4.0 GPA, but my notes look more like scribbles, and half the time I come to class looking like a drowned rat. The meals I cook are tasty, but they sure as hell aren’t pretty. And when I work out, I look like a middle schooler that some soccer mom left at the gym unattended. On top of getting things done, I also make time to see my loved ones, go to bed by 10:00 p.m., and eat regularly. You can always take inspiration from aspects of “that girl’s” mindset without any of the visual components of her life or the relentless pursuit of productivity, and it’s worked for me so far. Remember to take care of yourself, go to bed at a reasonable time, and realize that your health comes before your work — always.
If the aesthetics of “that girl” are inspiring to you, power to you. However, wield it carefully. Trends like this should be questioned for their dependence on productivity and image. We all want to improve yourselves and our lives, but be wary of adopting fads that rely on visual components to do it.
Image: Danyka Van Santen/The Cascade
Chandy is a biology major/chemistry minor who's been a staff writer, Arts editor, and Managing Editor at The Cascade. She began writing in elementary school when she produced Tamagotchi fanfiction to show her peers at school -- she now lives in fear that this may have been her creative peak.
