It girl
According to the modern definition of the Duden, an it girl is a young or younger woman who is known to a broad public through her frequent public appearances in the company of prominent people and her strong media presence . Originally the term could be translated as “girl with that certain something”. More recently, the It-Boy has also appeared more frequently as a male counterpart .
Historical term
In Hollywood's studio days , the "it" that characterizes the it girl was identical to glamor .
The name "It girl" came up for the first time in the USA for the silent film star Clara Bow ("America's first sex symbol") after she played the leading role in the film It (German title: That certain something ) in 1927 selling novel It by Elinor Glyn had played. In the opening credits of That Certain Something , Glyn defines the term as follows:
“That quality possessed by some which draws all others with its magnetic force. With 'It' you win all men if you are a woman and all women if you are a man. 'It' can be a quality of the mind as well as a physical attraction. "
“The property that some have, that attracts all others with their magnetic force. With 'It' you win all men if you are a woman and all women if you are a man. 'It' can be a mental quality or a physical attraction. "
With It (English for es ), that "certain something", sex appeal , charisma and appearance (cf. Charisma ) are meant. The term can therefore be translated as “girl with that certain something”.
Modern term
From 1995 the term found renewed use in English, but at the same time it was pejorated : the connotation “glamor” was replaced by a connotation “being famous for not being able to”.
Since then, the term has been used for mostly young women who initially become “ C-celebrities ” due to their strong presence on the boulevard without having to perform on their own . The reasons for media presence are, for example, prominent parents, siblings or life partners as well as appearances in public (especially at parties) and on reality TV . It girls are well connected, surround themselves with other celebrities and can set fashion trends.
It girls often use their media presence for self-marketing . Well-known examples are Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian and their family members Kourtney Kardashian , Khloé Kardashian , Kendall Jenner , Caitlyn Jenner and Kylie Jenner . The latter became the world's youngest billionaire through her cosmetics company Kylie Cosmetics . The star published an article about It Girls in 2007 called Famous For Failure .
In 2009 the term It-Girl was included in the Duden , which defines it as a young or younger woman who is known to a wide public through her frequent public appearances in the company of prominent people and her strong media presence.
The male counterpart was a main character in the French romantic comedy film It Boy - Love in French by David Moreau from 2013.
Web links
- Julia Amalia Heyer: The name counts . In: Der Spiegel , 41/2008.
- Katja Iken: History of the It Girls - Paris Hilton's role model . In: one day - contemporary stories on Spiegel Online , February 25, 2011.
Individual evidence
- ↑ ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) The original It girl - Clara Bow. In: bintmagazine , May 17, 2004.
- ↑ Cf. Manfred Günther : Dictionary youth - age. Berlin 2010.
- ↑ it girl in the NGram Viewer. Retrieved January 26, 2020 .
- ↑ Marthe Lisson: Built on a large ego: It-Girls , Schirn Mag, August 5, 2014, accessed on July 8, 2020.
- ^ "It-Girls": Famous for being famous , focus.de, June 20, 2013, accessed on January 24, 2020.
- ↑ Kylie Jenner is the youngest billionaire in the world , spiegel.de, March 5, 2019, accessed on January 24, 2020.
- ↑ Famous for not being able to do so , stern.de, November 27, 2007, accessed on January 24, 2020.
- ↑ It-Girl, das , duden.de, accessed on January 24, 2020.