Former fangirls are owning their power.
Being a fangirl was fortunately and unfortunately a core part of my identity growing up (a foundational pillar of girlhood, if you ask me). Lately, I find myself reflecting on how this era led me to becoming….a strategist? Adminning stan accounts, authoring fan fiction (🥴), ushering community, and, probably most importantly, building friendships with girls from all around the country and the world.
To everyone around me, it seemed nonsensical or childish—in reality, the skills I use everyday at work are skills that were cultivated in the obsessive, deeply passionate fandoms I was consumed by. In my personal life and online, I’ve been seeing so many retired fangirls recognizing how this time in life was critical and formative. It taught us to lead with curiosity, build around passion, and show up unapologetically. Love that we’re doing alright!