At Wylie High School, I often see merchandise being worn by students of their favorite artists, or their favorite actor or TV show. Everyone has their own favorite pop culture celebrities. We may often find comfort in our favorite music or TV show. That leaves me with one question, why is being a “fangirl” comforting?
To be clear, it’s not only girls that obsess over their favorite celebrities, boys have their favorites too. The term “fangirl” is commonly used in pop culture. One reason why I think it’s comforting is because of the atmosphere it creates, and how it makes you feel. Whether it’s a singer or an actor that you are a fan of, there are always people who love them as much as you do. One example of this atmosphere is when you go to a concert of one of your favorite artists. All of the fans are there for the same reason as you. They love that artist and their music. The atmosphere that the concert creates is absolutely magical.
Another reason why we may find comfort in being a fan of someone, is connecting with their work. Last year in the iconic movie “Barbie”, a lot of the audience connected with the lines spoken by actress America Ferrera towards the end of the film. Her speech talked about the challenges women face in the real world, and a lot of people could really relate to what she was talking about. It’s always comforting when you witness other people going through something similar because it makes you feel seen and not alone in that situation.
My favorite reason for being a fangirl is the friends that you make along the way. Over the years I’ve been a fan of multiple different artists and actors, and I’ve made friends with people who love them as much as I do. For example, I have really bonded with friends over Taylor Swift and other popular artists as well. It’s always so fun to talk about their new projects and to discuss how much they mean to you. I’ve been to a few concerts with my friends and I’m always so grateful for that time we have spent together. It’s so special to look back and remember how much fun the night was with your friends.
At the end of the day, being a fangirl of someone or something is truly so amazing and special. One day you will look back and remember all the fun times you had being a fan. Don’t let anyone make fun of what you love. Go out and buy the CD, buy the T-shirt, go to the concert, and enjoy the beautiful life of being a “fangirl”.