Today’s post was not planned BUT something has been tugging at me to write a post on what it means in today’s society to be an “It Girl”. I’ve spent some time recently watching documentaries on social media usage and the negative impact it can have on each of us…these documentaries have left me feeling sad, confused, and a bit frustrated. Feeling all of these things myself and feeling them even more so for generations to come…including my own children.

I’ve built a brand that requires a presence on social media. A large part of what I do is social media focused and I’ve got to say I’ve personally struggled with managing my own expectations as it pertains to social media. Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond grateful for the opportunities that social media has provided me and I will never take that forgranted but I would be lying if I said, “social media has never had a negative impact on me” because it has and continues to at times.

Social media can suffocate your mind and truly alter the way you perceive things…it can do some major damage and your confidence (and awareness of reality) can suffer. I’ve written a post before on comparison, how I’ve personally struggled with that at times, and how it has robbed me of complete joy. Ever since starting and growing my brand, I’ve had to make a very conscious effort to not allow social media to turn me into a complete basket case. I work at it every day and always remind myself what TRULY matters at the end of the day.

At the end of the day, it DOESN’T matter how many followers you have, how many likes and comments you get per post, how many so called friends you have on Instagram (that’s a whole different topic), what clothes you are wearing, what your hair or makeup looks like, and so on and so forth. What matters is the legacy you leave behind and how kind you are to yourself and to others along the way. Is being an “It Girl” the legacy I want to leave behind…absolutely not. I want to be remembered as someone who truly inspires others, as someone who is kind, gracious, and loving, someone who my daughter will want to be one day (and not because I dress in pretty clothes). I want to always be known for the beauty that comes from within…not the beauty that others may see in a square on Instagram.

We live in a world of so called “It Girls”…women who have given themselves this title or who have been given this title by our society. “It Girl” is defined in different ways but essentially an “It Girl” is a young beautiful woman who has established a so called celebrity status based on her socialite lifestyle.

I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying that sooooo many women, especially on Instagram, have coined themselves as an “It Girl”. I personally see a lot of women who portray themselves in this way and who easily make you feel less than worthy of their so called “status”. Social media provides an environment and the perfect recipe for women to establish themselves as the next big thing. There is nothing wrong with being admired and looked up to…we all want that in some way shape or form but what is wrong is when women are rude to or exclude other women because they put themselves on a pedestal and consider themselves to be better than everyone else. I’ve seen it one too many times and this mentality is so disheartening.

What’s even more heartbreaking and frustrating is that so many women feel the need to keep up and turn themselves into something or someone that they are not. So many women are less self aware and in touch with reality because of this “It Girl” world that we live in.

If you truly want to be an “It Girl”, do so by…

• Being self aware and strive to be the best version of yourself that you can be…don’t alter or change who you are to win the approval of others
• Be kind to others…never put yourself on a pedestal and consider yourself better than anyone else
• Let your true beauty shine from within…external appearances only go so far and can change tomorrow…your heart and soul are the true drivers behind your unique beauty
• Exemplify grace and humility
• Lift others up and make them feel loved and appreciated
• Inspire others to be their very best and NEVER make someone else feel unworthy of your attention
• Establish YOUR legacy…if tomorrow never came, what is your legacy and how do you wish to be remembered

We can ALL be “It Girls”! We don’t need a certain “status” to be an “It Girl”…remember what makes you special and share your personal gifts with others. Above all, remember that social media DOES NOT define who we are nor does it define our value. When it is all said and done…I hope you are ALL remembered by much more than your social media handles, how many followers you have, how many likes and comments you get on a post, and what other “It Girls” you surround yourself with.

What does being an “It Girl” mean to you?

As always, thanks so much for stopping by…see you back here real soon.