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British singer-songwriter Charli XCX has reclaimed the word “brat.”
photo: RNZ / Quinn Taueto
If you’ve ever been called a brat, rejoice. This old saying now has new meaning.
The new faces are a counterattack to the overly polished, perfectly posed aesthetic and behavior that has become prevalent on social media in recent years.
Yes, brat is a style – white tank top, no bra, lower back tattoo, smudged eyeliner, messy hair, square-frame sunglasses inside and out. But more importantly, the new brat is an attitude of not giving a shit and not conforming to expectations.
Frankly — and it’s rude to be honest — explaining this cultural moment is hard, so let’s start at the beginning.
Who is Charli XCX?
Charli XCX is a British dance-electro-punk pop musician. In June, she released her sixth studio album, KidThe album cover features the word “brat” in Arial font on a yellow-green background, which can be done in Microsoft Word. Critics and fans were quick to call Charli XCX’s album the soundtrack to summer in the northern hemisphere.
brat’s album cover.
photo: Charli XCX
How does Charli XCX explain the cultural phenomenon of “brat”?
Brat is not just an album, it is a lifestyle. Lyrics like “I went my own way, I succeeded” depict a Brat girl who is confident and carefree.
As Charli XCX explained on TikTok: “You’re that girl who’s a little bit sleazy, likes to party, and sometimes says stupid things…very honest, very blunt, and a little volatile.”
She told BBC The guy “can be pretty extravagant, but he can also be pretty sleazy. Just a pack of cigarettes, a Bic lighter, a white tank top with no bra. That’s all you need.”
Glamour Magazine put together a list of essential Brat styles, including a dirty neon color palette, makeup that looks like it was left on from the night before, and undone hair.
So, brat has many, many things.
What is #brasummer?
These are all things kids love – chartreuse, cheesy, messy, nonchalant – only in the summer, and it’s summer in the northern hemisphere right now, so #bratsummer has appeared nearly 50,000 times on TikTok.
As ensemble points out that New Zealand can have a “naughty winter”, which could mean “going to the club at 5pm sharp because it’s dark out” and “celebrating the unhinged, slovenly and rowdy girls who are always told they’re too much or too hard to manage”.
How did the kid go from insult to praise?
A brat still has the same traits that might have labeled you a brat when you were five years old – misbehaving, having a slightly odd attitude, and not conforming to what is expected of you. The difference is that the new brat has those traits.
What kind of job is Kamala Harris good for?
Kamala Harris, the US vice president and current Democratic presidential candidate, has become known for being herself, and this core bratty quality is not often seen in politicians.
At a press conference last year, for example, Harris became animated while reciting her mother’s wisdom about survival. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. Do you think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” Harris mimed, then broke into a chuckle.
Her campaign was in the spotlight after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing Harris. A fast-thinking social media team Rebranding her campaign account on X to the style of a Brat album cover — neon green with an Ariel font. Harris’ press conference, initially mocked by conservatives, has resurfaced and been welcomed by supporters, inspiring countless coconut tree memes.
Harris quickly received the ultimate brat’s endorsement. Hours after Biden announced his candidacy, Charli XCX declared on X that “Kamala is a brat.”
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