Who told you that you need a ‘glow up’?

By Emma Barnes

According to the urban dictionary, ‘glowing up’ is a Noun. glow-up (plural glow-ups) (slang) A major and impressive transformation in appearance, talent, power, etc . However, unfortunately, as trends emerge young girls making guides to ‘how to glow up’ on popular platforms like Tik Tok associated glowing up with changing your appearance: having clear skin, the most healthy thick hair, perfectly shaved legs, the guides gave you a completed journey on ‘how to achieve this’. Perhaps these feelings make you feel refreshed, clean and comfortable with yourself - in this case maybe it could be seens as a glow up of ‘an impressive transformation’ physically but mentally - that could be another question.

For me I think glowing up sounds like a way to improve yourself, you are trying to glow up because you don't have a glow currently. There is direct evidence that as humans we never feel fully satisfied in our bodies the way they are and that there is always something we can change about ourselves. I find it bizarre how we can so easily tell ourselves we need to change ourselves to feel content, we aren't 100% the way we are but we would never dare tell a friend, a family member or someone who crosses the street that they need a ‘glow up’ a change of themselves or ultimately that they aren't already glowing.

Like the urban dictionary told us, there are multiple ways of ‘glowing up’, there was a list besides appearance that included a talent. A talent is exploring a new pastime like a skill , finding new recipes, learning to speak another language by joining a club or taking part in classes. By putting yourself out there I wonder if we would associate this sense of transformation of ‘glowing up’ to the same as a change in appearance? Is this a major transformation in yourself, to learn a skill or explore your abilities. Let’s change the term ‘glowing up’ to ‘finding ourselves’ and then maybe people will feel more obliged to use this term to work on creating the best versions of themselves.

So why do we actually want this? Why do we suddenly aspire to change ourselves to fit in a genre or to feel a sense of achievement by being part of a population who have ‘glown up’. It is seen as normal to want change in ourselves. Yes. I agree positive change is good - perhaps a refreshment of your routine or a change in lifestyle. For some, a 5am start could be beneficial- setting your alarm as the sun rises allowing you to slowly tick off the to-do list by 10am before work, or for others a later 9am lie-in gives you time to refresh and set off for the day in the afternoon. We are all different so whatever works for you is your pathway to follow to achieve the best version of yourself.