The first day of summer officially started on June 21, but Hot Girl Summer started on May 17, when Megan Thee Stallion dropped her debut mixtape Fever. The album is powered by the standout “Cash sh*t” track, in which Megan confidently proclaims, “Real hot girl sh*t” in the first few seconds, unknowingly launching the official theme song for #HotGirlSummer.
But what exactly is #HotGirlSummer? Who can be a Hot Girl? Your guide to all things Hot Girl Summer, ahead.
Where did the term "Hot Girl" even come from?
The Hot Girl movement has grown increasingly popular this summer, but Megan has been calling herself the "H-Town Hottie" and "Hot Girl" as early as her 2017 mixtape Make It Hot. "You know you a good guy/We know I'm the hot girl, she raps on "Crazy." On "Geekin," she introduces her other alter egos, rapping, "Young Tina Snow, H-Town hottie/Long ass legs like I'm Naomi.")
“A Hot Girl exudes self-love and self-confidence,” Megan Thee Stallion told ELLE.com back in June. “A Hot Girl is somebody who's super confident; somebody that's just unapologetically them. A sassy attitude and doesn't care what nobody has to say about them.”
Now, the term "Hot Girl" has become a part of Megan's brand; "Hot Girl Meg" can be seen all over her socials and on the cover of her latest offering Fever, which reads, "She's Thee Hot Girl and she's bringing Thee Heat." Thanks to her self-proclaimed "hotties," "the term has quickly evolved into the internet's meme-of-the-moment with fans hashtagging #RealHotGirlsh*t and #HotGirlSummer 'round the clock.
So what is #HotGirlSummer?
Hot Girl Summer is less about the increasing temperatures and more about autonomy; it's a call to action to urge fans to do whatever the hell they desire this summer.
Like Meg—who raps full-time while pursuing a degree in health administration at Texas Southern University—Hot Girls are more than meets the eye. If you click the hashtag #HotGirlSummer on Instagram and peruse the results, you’ll see Hot Girls graduating college, traveling the world, belting out songs at music festivals with friends, twerking in clubs, and chilling at home with the kids. There's no singular definition of the term, so it's up to you to find your own definition.
Hot Girl Summer can easily be summed up in this meme: “When you see me acting up this summer, mind your business. I deserve it.” The “acting up” part is solely up to your own interpretation. Want to travel to five different countries this summer? Use that PTO and see the world—you owe it to yourself. Have a sudden urge to reply to those “u up?” text messages? Do it (with caution, of course), and if you don’t feel like pursuing a relationship with anyone, don’t. Want to stay inside and binge-watch Stranger Things all day long? Who’s stopping you? Are you newly single and looking to have some fun a la Hot Girl Co-Chair Wendy Williams? Leave your ex in the past, grab your friends to get drinks and get a new fling.
Not to be confused with cuffing season, Hot Girl Summer isn’t about men, despite what some Twitter folks may think. According to Twitter, Hot Girl Summer means:
Going after everything you deserve:
Treating yourself to higher quality jewelry:
Loving the skin you’re in:
Listening to Lizzo, because DUH:
A whole lot of twerking:
Hot Girl Summer....but with my man?
Whether you're in a relationship or not, Hot Girl Summer is for everyone. As mentioned above, Hot Girl Summer is all about doing what makes you happy and confident regardless of the naysayers. You can absolutely go out and have a good time with your friends and still maintain a healthy relationship with your significant other. "If you can't handle a bad bitch, don't date one." It's simple.
If Ciara can enjoy #HotGirlSummer with her love, Russell Wilson, then you can too.
What About #HotBoySummer?
Can we just have something for ourselves? As #HotGirlSummer started to gain traction on social media, men have once again inserted themselves into our fun by launching #HotBoySummer. While Hot Girl Summer was based on boosting self-confidence and prioritizing happiness, the fellas have turned their Hot Boy Summer into a movement solely focused on proudly projecting their fuccboi energy, which obviously misses the point.
Hot Girl Starter Pack
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Foundation: Of course Megan Thee Stallion uses Fenty Beauty's Pro Filt'r Foundation, created by the Bad Gal herself, Rihanna. When asked by a fan what foundation and eyeliner she uses, Megan said "Fenty." The foundation is lightweight, buildable with a soft-matte finish, and can withstand any and all of your Hot Girl Summer antics.
Good Knees: You might want to hit the gym for this one. You can't listen to a Hot Girl Meg song without a sudden urge to drop your knees and shake what the good Lord gave you. And if you've ever seen Megan Thee Stallion perform, she's can twerk and bounce for a full song with ease.
Sunblock: Hot Girls wear sunscreen, too. Sunscreen isn't solely reserved for beach trips and poolside hangouts; it should be worn whenever you step outside. (Check out our picks for the best sunscreens for the summer.)
D'usse or Hennessy: Meg doesn't call herself the Cognac Queen for no reason. One of her famous catchphrases is "Drive the boat," in which she carries around a bottle of her favorite cognac and pours it in the mouth of partygoers.
Wendy's Lemonade: Earlier this week, a fan praised Wendy's popular lemonade drink on Twitter, which the fast food chain quickly dubbed, "The Official Drink of Hot Girl Summer." Megan agreed. "Wendy a hot girl y’all lol," Megan wrote, seemingly approving of Wendy's using her catchphrase. Do I smell a collab?
Hot Girl Summer Soundtrack
"Cash sh*t" - Megan Thee Stallion ft. DaBaby
Drop this song at a summer day party and the walls are guaranteed to shake from all the Hot Girl Meg fans belting out the lyrics at the top of their lungs. On "Cash sh*t," Megan brags about her wealth and flipping the script on the fellas.
"Up Late" - Ari Lennox
Who said Hot Girls don't need love? Ari Lennox whips up the perfect soundtrack for when you decide to respond "yes" to that "U up?" text. She lustfully purrs at her partner that he "should be here for my regretful morning" and sings about slipping into "Tar-jay (Target) lingerie." And by the end of the song, she's asks him to stay a little longer.
"My Type" - Saweetie
It's the summer of nostalgia. Fm thick scrunchies to thin, colored sunglasses, and timeless sneakers, Saweetie's "My Type" is oozing with all of the above and then some. She flips Petey Pablo's 2003 bop for a new generation and combines her energetic flow with catchy lyrics, which makes for the perfect song of the summer contender.
"Truth Hurts" - Lizzo
"I just took a DNA test, turns out I'm 100% that bitch/Even when I'm crying crazy," Lizzo sings in the first few seconds of "Truth Hurts," an anthemic, three-minute middle finger to fuccbois that reminds the ladies not to take anyone's bullsh*t and that "I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever be your side chick."
"Tia Tamara" - Doja Cat ft. Rico Nasty
Ever love your titt*es so much you made a song about it? Doja Cat did and it's pure gold. Doja Cat compares her twins to actual twins Tia and Tamera (from the 90s sitcom Sister, Sister) in her signature goofy, energetic flow and calls upon fellow goofy, energetic equal Rico Nasty. We love two legends working together!
