Throughout this week I’ll be highlighting what in this weird reality we live in made my year worth it in 2023. From the television, I consumed to the music that soothed my soul, but before the official list is revealed, I wanted to highlight my absolute favorite thing about the past 365 days, and that’s the girl power brought forth by Beyonce, Barbie, and Taylor Swift.
Anyone my age remembers the insanity that was the Spice Girls. Of course, not too long before those five women from across the pond invaded our mindset with ideas of girl power and the peace sign, we also had things like the entrepreneurship of babysitters, Lilith Fair, and icons our age like Christina Ricci and the Olsen Twins. The ‘90s was truly the era of the young feminist, so it’s no wonder that in 2023, with most of us in our 30s and 40s went hard this summer at the movies and at concerts, because we’re not alone anymore – we now are old enough to have children of our own to introduce the mantra Ginger, Scary, Baby, Sporty, and Posh – so millennials and Gen Z rose up, and even Gen X participated in the first of many movements in the summer of 2023; ‘Barbie.’
Barbie was introduced to the market the year my mother was born, 1959. While Bratz had their moment in the 2000s, Barbie remained the icon of all icons in the toy realm and in 2023 finally got the big screen attention she deserved. At least that’s how it was hyped. The buzz around ‘Barbie’ felt – weird, but in the best way possible. For far too long now theaters have been a place for remakes, reboots, superheroes, and the occasional animated film. Gone were the days of huge originals. ‘Barbie’ stood out in that way, but she also got many excited to exist in a theater space again.
We didn’t just show up to watch a movie in our usual sweats and comfy shoes. People were creating pink ensembles to sit in a dark theater and watch Margot Robbie and Co. play toys come to life. It was glorious and, I think, inspired what to come outside of movies. I’m talking about summer tours featuring Beyonce and Taylor Swift.
It was noted that the color scheme for Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour was silver, platinum, shiny – whatever word you want to use, and the BeyHive did not disappoint. The same can be said of the Swifties because, with Taylor Swift heading out for her huge Eras tour, fans had an array of options to choose from based on which album they wanted to step out in. Not only that, but Swifties also went hard at Hobby Lobby, making an endless supply of friendship bracelets to exchange and hand out at concerts – and theaters.
That takes us back to where we started because after their summers on the road came to an end, both artists released a tour documentary of sorts to theaters. Despite just being at their local AMC, fans still decided to dress for the occasion.
Barbie was one of the first toys so many little girls grew up with, and whether or not she inspired you to go into fashion or become a teacher, she provided all of us with fond memories and allowed our imaginations to soar. As for Beyonce and Taylor Swift, don’t have to like either of them to acknowledge that what they do positively impacts people. Yes, do fandoms oftentimes get a little out of hand with their obsessions? Well, yeah. Do you remember what teeny boppers were like in Times Square in 1999? The point is, as long as they’re not hurting anyone with their obsession – let them be.
After so many years of waking up to news stories that made you go, “What the actual fuck?” It was nice in 2023 to have those moments where the headlines were focused on pink decor, Blue Ivy’s work ethic, and football fans being so fragile about a player’s love life they’d wage war on a woman who probably apologizes when she’s early to an appointment. I loved Barbie, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift not only for those moments, but also for them being behind the proof that when you make shit for women – we show up, and we don’t fuck around.
Crushgasm 