BABYGIRL

In the vast expanse of cultural discourse, there exists a peculiar dichotomy, one that pits detached irony against earnestness, and confident coolness against vulnerable sincerity. Caught within this schism are babygirls, who are taste-makers and the drivers of consumer trends yet are regarded as anathema to the construction of those things.  

The rise of the 2010s personal essay boom represented a feminine counterbalance to the dominant culture’s prioritization of ironic detachment. However, disgruntled cultural stakeholders undermined this equilibrium, using the identity politics-as-moral entrepreneurship crowd as scapegoats to mask a deeper disdain for the babygirls.

One group's violence is deceptively subtle, resulting in erasure, while the other group's violence forces the babygirl to conform to a persecution-obsessed identity that fails to accurately represent the breadth of her experience. Both camps make the babygirl beholden to the collective whims of a cultural milieu that, when it isn’t ignoring her, actively hates and envies her.

Babygirl envy is no more apparent than Gen X men-curated soundtracks to millennial teen-girl soap operas like One Tree Hill and The OC. Or, entertainers like Harry Styles whose maximalist attire, penchant for touring with acts like Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis, and displays of feminine excess are desperate mimicry. Consider also Drake, arguably the biggest hip-hop artist globally, who once posted book recommendations curated by BookTube on his Instagram story, or whose recently leaked message to a woman was him describing her body as "tea." And then, there's the portrayal of Euphoria’s Rue, Sam Levinson's thinly veiled self-insert protagonist.

Nothing can be successful or popular without babygirls, including this publication, so please consider pledging your support for Princess Babygirl. For just $8 a month, subscribers gain exclusive access to a monthly Babygirl digest, a meticulously curated blend of collage art, and writing. Each edition of the Babygirl weaves together visual and written work. As a bonus, babygirls enjoy the perk of early access to future zines, music releases, and merchandise.

The first edition of Babygirl is set to hit inboxes on March 22nd, and here's the best part – it's completely free of charge! And as if that's not exciting enough, the following Monday, March 25th (EDIT: rescheduled!), my first piece of cultural criticism since 2021 will be arriving in your inbox (EDIT: technically my second!), also at no cost to you.

Love,

Princess Babygirl

princessbabygirl444ever@gmail.com / IG: @princessbabygirlforever / X: @princessbbgr1 / Goodreads: Princess Babygirl / Youtube: @princessbabygirlforever / Tiktok: @princessbabygirlforever