The 'vanilla girl' trend shows that beauty is power

If you're more than a casual observer on the interwebs, you've probably heard the term, "chronically online" – someone who knows the ins and outs of viral trends, memes and memorable moments. But sometimes you can get too deep in the Matrix. That's why our new segment, <em>Chronically Online</em>, is here to find the balance. <br/><br/>To kick it off, host <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1123917129/brittany-luse">Brittany Luse</a> chats with Buzzfeed News internet reporter <a href="https://twitter.com/stefficao_?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Steffi Cao</a> about her essay, <a href="https://stefficao.substack.com/p/white-women-want-their-power-back">"white women want their power back: on bbls and balletcore, and the entropy of aesthetic."</a> After scrolling on Instagram Reels, Steffi noticed that the clean girl, coastal grandmother and – most importantly – the vanilla girl trends are all ushering in a very specific aesthetic. Brittany and Steffi talk beauty as soft power and the rebrand of white womanhood.