If last year signalled a global embrace of girlhood (recall: Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie mania and Taylor Swift‘s glittered coated Era’s world tour), then 2024 saw a collective unpacking of the complexities that come with being a girl. As pop artist, Charli XCX wrote this year on her juggernaut summer album, Brat: “it’s so confusing sometimes to be a girl.’
For many of us, a retreat inward not only reignited the magic of girlhood, where limitless possibilities can unravel, but forced us to confront the hard truth that being a girl isn’t all blissful ignorance.
Girlhood is also a time where you don’t have a voice. When you don’t have the language yet to describe certain experiences. When you’re overlocked or dismissed because you are just a ‘silly little girl.’
What you don’t know yet is that your silliness will be your greatest asset, because it means you feel joy and have the emotional freedom to express yourself. Something many of your male counterparts will come to fear.
Of course, there will be many girls around the world for who girlhood is a fleeting privilege, so it is for them and the girls that continue to push boundaries that on October 11 we celebrate International Day of the Girl.
As the marie claire team reflect on their own experiences on International Day of the Girl, we ask them what their message would be to their girlhood-self.
Alexandra English, Features Editor
“I wish we could hang out! I think we’d have fun if I was your babysitter, mainly because not much has changed at all in the 26 years since this photo was taken. It was the morning of your? my? our 10th birthday, before all our friends showed up dressed as their favourite Spice Girl. You won’t grow much taller than this, and nearly three decades later (yikes) you’ll still be a bookworm, you’ll still surround yourself with really fun girlfriends (you’ll learn to always be a girls’ girl) and you’ll still love a theme (and the Spice Girls). I miss you and I think about you all the time.”
Francesca Hartley, Beauty Writer
“You’re dramatic (and I love that about you!) but please try to employ a little more calm and logical thinking. Not everything is the be all and end all. Particularly when it comes to negative feelings about yourself. Remember to ask yourself what tangible evidence you have to back up those thoughts. If the answer is nothing, move on! Also: more sunscreen, less smokey eyes and skip the side bangs era (you’ll regret it).”
Harriet Sim, Deputy Features Editor
“You’re twelve years old and life at the moment is so small. Your taste in music is dictated by your So Fresh CD or what’s on the car radio. Movie’s aren’t readily available for streaming, they’re at the cinema in the school holidays. Your world might be small, but it is simple and you are happy. Your life at 28 looks a little different that what you might have imagined. We tell stories for a living, which satisfies our curiosity about life and the people in it. You will have amazing experiences, make new friends and keep many of our old ones, and you’ll be happy to know we do find love. Sadly, we will lose a few people along the way and it will change you in ways that I can not explain. The good news is, we don’t let our loss steal anymore for us. We embrace life and cherish the good stuff. But while you are still in what I’ll call ‘the simple years,’ enjoy every moment of it, because life is a lot bigger than the world you know, but it’s going to be worth exploring.”
Robyn Fay-Perkins, Photo Director
“You are so much stronger than you know and you’re going to surprise yourself with what you accomplish. You’re doing just fine. It’s going to take you a really, really long time to realise that nobody gets to tell you who the fuck you are. Also, please don’t wear those bright leggings again.”
Juanita Field, Creative Director
“I would say to happily embrace your creativity and sensitivity – it’ll set you in good stead for a career in magazine design!”
Jordan Boorman, Fashion Editor
“Always stop, take a deep breath and remember that you are enough.”
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