The One-Size-Fits-All Wellness Standard

Calling the fluff on “That Girl” 

by Richa Jindal

Image by Samhitha Thatavarty

For a while, social media was obsessed with “That Girl.” She wakes up at five in the morning, drinks matcha from a glass cup, journals in perfect cursive, and somehow fits in a Pilates session before starting her day. Her wardrobe is minimal and elegant, her fridge is color-coordinated, and her skin glows with the kind of radiance only an expensive skincare routine can achieve. She is the embodiment of discipline, productivity, wellness, and aesthetic perfection, and millions of young women wanted to be just like her.

The #ThatGirl trend exploded on TikTok and Instagram in 2021, quickly evolving from a simple morning routine to an entire lifestyle. The appeal was undeniable. In a world that felt increasingly chaotic, becoming “That Girl” seemed like a way to reclaim control. Her habits– waking up early, eating clean, exercising, and setting goals–were marketed as the key to success and self-improvement. The trend spoke to a generation of women eager to better themselves, offering the illusion that a perfectly structured life would lead to happiness. But over time, the obsession with self-improvement turned into something else entirely.

What started as motivation soon became another exhausting performance of perfection. A trend that had initially encouraged self-improvement morphed into an aesthetic-driven, highly curated ideal that felt impossible to maintain. The pressure to be constantly productive, to optimize every minute of the day, and to present a flawless version of oneself online created an overwhelming sense of inadequacy. Instead of inspiring, it left many feeling like they were failing. “That Girl” was meant to be empowering, but in reality, she reinforced the same unattainable beauty and lifestyle standards that had plagued women for generations. The image of success that she promoted–thin, wealthy, effortlessly put-together– was simply not accessible to everyone. 

As with all social media trends, “That Girl” is fading, giving way to a new trend of realism. People are rejecting the pressure of optimization in favor of a more balanced, forgiving approach to self-care. New trends like “lazy girl workouts,” “romanticizing the ordinary,” and “soft living” reflect a growing desire for sustainability in self-improvement. If there’s one thing these trends make clear, it’s that most of it is just fluff– true wellness comes from dismissing social media standards and embracing whatever genuinely makes you happy. The key to empowerment is to simply be.