You’ve Heard of Hot Girl Summer... But Next Up, Here Comes Rat Girl Summer
When Hot Girl Summer came around in 2019, no one batted an eye. It’s a no-brainer that we’d listen to whatever Megan Thee Stallion had to say, especially if it had to do with embracing the hottest parts of ourselves and showing out all summer. But this summer, a new term has come along on TikTok and it’s obviously not as appealing upfront: Rat Girl Summer.
Rat Girl Summer is a mindset, just like Hot Girl Summer, but it doesn’t have to do with the disease-ridden vermin running through the subways or scurrying and eating in alleys. Read on to find out what Rat Girl Summer is all about and why it might actually be inspiring.
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What is Rat Girl Summer?
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In a June 4 TikTok from Lola Kolade (@lolaokola on the app), she stated that it’s Rat Girl Summer. "We're having a rat girl summer, OK? We're scurrying around the streets, we're nibbling on our little snacks, and generally finding ourselves in places we have no business being in,” she said. “Embrace the rodent energy."
Kolade was far from done defining Rat Girl Summer. The next day, she posted the official rules for embracing one’s rodent energy.
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1. You have to go outside
“You cannot scurry in bed,” Kolade said. Rat Girls can only “decay” in bed two days a week; the other five are for outside movement.
2. Nibble on your “little snacks”
“That means that we’re eating, and enjoying eating,” Kolade advised. “Starving yourself to be skinny for summer is out.” You have to have the energy to cause mischief, right?
3. Kill the cringe
When it comes to doing something that makes you feel insecure or embarrassed, Kolade said to “kill it immediately and bury the body.”
4. No overthinking
The creator said that going with your gut is in this Rat Girl Summer. “Do you think a rat thinks twice before stealing a slice of pizza and scurrying across a subway platform?” she asked. “No.”
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Where did Rat Girl Summer come from?
Lola Kolade started this TikTok trend that has swept the whole app. #ratgirlsummer has 27.2 million views, with Kolade’s on top. And #rodentenergy has 15.2 million views.
And even though Kolade is the creator of this trend and lifestyle, she’s not the only one talking about it (obviously, with all of those views).
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Do people take Rat Girl Summer seriously?
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If you’re thinking to yourself, “This Rat Girl Summer thing sounds silly and a funny bit, but that’s about it,” you’re probably not alone. But you’d be wrong. This trend turned into such a big thing that Kolade and the dating app Feeld threw a party to celebrate Rat Girl Summer in Brooklyn. It was titled “The Mischief,” which is apparently the actual term for a group of rats. How truly fitting.
The Washington Post reported that while this idea started off as a joke to most who saw Kolade’s video, it quickly became a real lifestyle. The creator posts affirmations regarding Rat Girl Summer and even checks in on how people’s Rat Girl Summer is going. It is no longer just a silly internet term; it is something to aspire to and live your day-to-day by. Rat Girl Summer has actualized a real way to live and that’s kind of inspiring.
Internet reactions to Rat Girl Summer
Let's get our cats into it too
Both of us are just vibing with rat girl summer right now pic.twitter.com/DPi8AzWy9U
— BABY (@Seas26) August 17, 2023
The people want Rat Girl Summer
“rat girl summer” was searched +750% in the past week, US ??
— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) August 18, 2023
We're living unabashedly
tiktok micro-trends for young women (girl dinner, barbiecore, now rat girl summer) are just ways for young women to give themselves license to live unabashedly
if there's a trendy chic name to it, there's less shame about making certain lifestyle choices— Tanya Chen (on Threads) (begrudgingly) (@tanyachen) August 17, 2023
Can Dolphin Girl Summer be next, please?
Rat girl summer? ???????? Why not dolphin girl summer where I’m just squealing, having smooth skin, and jumping in and out of water?
— YOUR FAVORITE WEST AFRICAN (@wstafrican) August 12, 2023
This also sounds great
You've heard of Rat Girl Summer, how about Pigeon Girl Summer: sideye everyone, walk everywhere don't fly, pick at things, travel in a squad, chill on rooftops, never in a rush https://t.co/elVPb1okvI
— anne (@lildovzz) August 18, 2023
Let's all keep it going!
Had my first pumpkin coffee of the season today. Rat girl summer is rolling over to rat girl fall
— amanda the good witch (@sloppymenace) August 17, 2023
All about scurry culture
First #girldinner and now #ratgirlsummer. Love how '23 is putting away with the female hustle culture
— hannahjac (@hannahjak18) August 9, 2023
Rats like to be cozy too
I would like to participate in a version of Rat Girl Summer, but with more staying indoors
— Kate Hinksman (@katelilian89) August 17, 2023
Our biggest weakness during Rat Girl Summer
The way I was lured down to family dinner by my MIL with a photo of cheese last night. #ratgirlsummer
— katrina (@katrinavvera) August 14, 2023
Next up, what is girl dinner and why is everyone on TikTok posting about it?