A new trend has taken the internet by storm this summer and if you haven’t heard of it, I envy you because I have been bombarded by numerous posts, reels, and TikTok about Hot Girl Summer to the point I’d rather deep clean my whole house from top to bottom than hear that phrase again.

So, what is Hot Girl Summer?

The Origins of Hot Girl Summer

The origins behind Hot Girl Summer come from a meme inspired by the song composed by Megan Thee Stallion of the same title. When asked to describe what Hot Girl Summer means, Megan said that “it’s about being unapologetically you, having fun, being confident, being the life of the party, and living your truth.”

However, that’s not what I see when I scroll through Instagram and TikTok.

On social media, the term Hot Girl Summer takes on a whole new meaning.

In the videos floating around the internet, girls show themselves with no makeup, often in sweats, hair messy, and then transition with sexy music to them tanned, made up to the max, often in skimpy outfits, prancing around while promoting a “Hot Girl Summer” aesthetic. These videos often get hundreds of thousands of views and overtly sexulize teenagers and young women more than they uplift them.

There’s nothing really “wrong” with the concept of Hot Girl Summer. The idea behind it started out good, but as it continues to garner more attention on social media, as things tend to do, it has taken on a lens of another focus.

The popular phrase and videos often leave girls feeling insecure and under pressure to work out more, get tan, purchase a whole new wardrobe, and spend exorbitant amounts of money trying to achieve “Hot Girl Summer” status or feel “attractive” this summer.

Most girls, when asked about what a “Hot Girl” image evokes for them, answered that a “hot girl” is someone who is skinny, tanned, and made up in skimpy clothing that doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

If you aren’t those things, then you aren’t going to be having a “Hot Girl Glow Up” this summer. It’s exclusive and leaves many of us withering in low-self esteem and trying to figure out ways to become more attractive. Along with body image distortion comes the overt sexualization of women as well as encouraging them to “hook-up” and own their sexuality, especially if they are single. This again leaves many girls feeling like they have to go out with random guys and hook up in order to be sexy and empowered when, in reality, it does the opposite.

So! Now that you have a better grasp of what “Hot Girl Summer” means and the negatives and positives behind it, let’s dive into why having a HGS shouldn’t be our main goal this year.

Why Hot Girl Summer Shouldn’t Be Our Goal

As Christian women, we’re not called to be of this world or follow the trends. They can be fun, but they can also be damaging to our mental, physical, and spiritual health. Ever since I heard the HGS, I began to wonder about things I hadn’t used to before. Thoughts such as, “What will make me hotter?, “Why can’t I wear those outfits too? No one has a problem with it. In fact, people are celebrating them in those outfits! Why shouldn’t I celebrate myself too?”

The problem? Those lines of thinking don’t honor God.

Hot Girl Summer is a term used to bring gratification, attention, and glory to one’s own self instead of God. Hot Girl Summer is a feminist term used to say, “I can do whatever I want, dress how I want, and live how I want because I want to. No one can tell me otherwise.”

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make your own choices in life, but as Christians we have a higher calling, responsibility, and reputation to uphold. We can’t just wear whatever to fit in or to be cool. We can’t start swearing just because everyone else is, or for the sake of “empowerment,” because people are watching.

Our social media followers are watching.

Our non-Christian friends are watching.

Jesus is watching.

If we just took the feminist calling and threw everything to the side, no one would be able to tell the difference between us and the next non-Christian girl standing beside us.

Instead of Hot Girl Summer…

So, instead of chasing after an image and a fleeting feeling that will only last as long as the tanner and clothes last, why don’t we turn our eyes to something more eternal?

Instead of focusing on becoming a “Hot Girl” this summer, let’s return our attention to our families. How are we treating our siblings? Our parents? What things can we do around the house to make our families better?

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV)

Instead of trying to find the skimpiest clothing to show off and garner attention, why not volunteer at a food bank or community center and give attention and love to those who really need it? 

1 Timothy 2:9-10 “…the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (NIV)

Instead of spending a ton of money trying to “glow up,” why don’t you give that money to your church or help fund a missions project?

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (NIV)

Instead of focusing so hard on increasing our outer attractiveness, let’s turn our minds inward and focus instead on our inner beauty and making our hearts beautiful and pleasing to God.

1 Peter 3:3-4 “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” (NIV)

Instead of a “Hot Girl Summer,” let’s strive to leave the world a better place than when we found it, uplift our friends, and honor God with our bodies and words.

2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (NIV)

As young women of God, we don’t have to worry about being “hot” or “sexy,” because He has already redeemed and called us beautiful and “perfectly made.” We can live free without worrying about what other people think (although it may be hard) because by His death on the cross, He has granted us the freedom to live and reign with Him in Heaven.

So lift your eyes up from your phone, dear Rose, and to the Heavens above because that is where our hope comes from.

Bekah is a young writer and podcaster from Southern California who is a lover of all things books and Christ and has been writing and publishing articles on Christian living since the tender age of twelve. Her mission in life is to bring light to the darkness through the written word via fiction and nonfiction. She is the assistant manager of The Wilting Rose Project and hopes to inspire young ladies in their walk with Christ in a world where hope is hard to come by.

Related Articles

• To the Overachiever: Are You Pleasing God With the Work of Your Hands? June 22, 2023
• Radical: 4 Ways to Imitate ChristMarch 16, 2023
• Imago Dei: You Are Uniquely CreatedMarch 2, 2023

Other Articles by Bekah Black

Do you struggle with the pressure of “Hot Girl Summer”? What do you think would be a good way for us to spend our time doing instead of “glowing up” for HGS?

Comment below, Roses, and let’s chat!