The It Girl — you all know her. She’s classically elegant, lavishly glamorous, stunningly beautiful and wickedly talented. She’s the supermodel who owns the runway, the actress who lights up the silver screen, or the singer who dominates the radio. You can’t decide between loving her and wanting to be her.
A prime example of an It Girl of the past is Audrey Hepburn, a British actress known for her effortless beauty, captivating presence and down-to-earth nature. Other It Girls of the 20th century include Marilyn Monroe, Farrah Fawcett, Meg Ryan, Winona Ryder, and Jennifer Aniston. She’s a household name, beloved and envied by millions. But the definition of the It Girl has changed since the dawn of the 21st century. There are heaps of successful stars today, but who is truly an It Girl?
Every pop culture fan has a different definition of an It Girl. Some think she ought to be funny and relatable, while others think she ought to be classy and unattainable. But there is one ingredient of It Girls’ past that seems to be a common theme — she’s mysterious. This means that nowadays, an It Girl is much harder to come by. She isn’t just someone who is beautiful, rich and famous. She enjoys her privacy and doesn’t give it up for anything.
Throughout the 20th century, maintaining an air of mystique was almost effortless. The only time the public saw their beloved It Girl was on television, in the newspaper or in concert. People couldn’t get enough of her because they saw so little of her. They were always left wanting more. But then came the 2000s, and with it, the rise of reality television and tabloid magazines. The world’s biggest stars were mysterious no more. The public had an easy, accessible way of getting to know their favorite actresses and singers.
Take, for example, world-famous pop icon, Britney Spears. If she had been famous in the 80s, the world would have known very little about her personal life. However, because of tabloids, paparazzi managed to catch her during some of her most intimate moments. The public didn’t really know her, but they got far more glimpses into a star’s life than they would have gotten twenty years earlier. After atrocious invasions of privacy aside, Britney Spears wasn’t an It Girl anymore because these moments caught on camera humanized her to the point where she was no longer mysterious. People weren’t left wanting more because they already saw much more of her life than they expected to. The rise of social media in the 2010s only made celebrities more accessible. However, stars such as Kylie Jenner and Selena Gomez readily share pictures of their most exciting or vulnerable moments with millions of followers.
Some have argued that the It Girl is dead; some have argued that she has simply adapted. Because it is so hard to be successful now without a social media presence, the world of stardom has forever been changed. Perhaps, though, the It Girl is simply harder to come by. While it is difficult to amass such a following without being active on social media, there are a few stars who have proven it is not impossible.
Golden Globe winning actress and fashion icon Zendaya is a perfect example of the It Girl in 2023. She’s everything you expect an It Girl to be — beautiful, elegant, glamorous and talented. In comparison to other stars, glimpses of her are rare, but they make waves every time. Zendaya has shown off her talents in her growing filmography, from successful television shows to blockbuster movies. Off the big screen, she has become known for her pristine sense of fashion and daring style on the red carpet. But throughout all of this, she maintains her privacy and seldom lets on what is going on in her personal life. As a result, she is not only envied, but beloved around the world.
While the It Girl in the 21th century is different, she is still very much alive. If there is one thing we can count on, it’s that she will continue to influence all of us. Ever so admirable and graceful, the It Girl is here to stay.
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