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What Brat Summer Is & How to Have One of Your Own

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How Charli XCX's album started a popular summer trend

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: November 11, 2024 Fact Checked

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What is brat summer?

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Brat Summer Origins

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Having a Brat Summer

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Kamala is Brat Meme

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Brat “Apple” Dance

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Is brat summer over?

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Similar TikTok Trends

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If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you’ve probably heard the term “brat summer” and wondered what it meant. Brat summer, inspired by Charli XCX’s album Brat , is a trend based on partying, being confident, and maybe being a little petty, with lots of neon green and Y2K fashion influences. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about brat summer, including how to have one of your own, where the trend came from, different Brat -inspired trends (like Kamala is Brat and the Apple dance), and whether or not brat summer is officially over.

Brat Summer Meaning

Brat summer is a TikTok fashion and lifestyle trend that embraces Y2K fashion, having fun and partying, being messy, and putting yourself first. It originated with Charli XCX’s album Brat which was released in June 2024. Because the album inspired so many trends, fans declared that summer to be brat summer.

Section 1 of 7:

What is brat summer?

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Brat summer is a TikTok trend about being rebellious and carefree. When pop singer Charli XCX released Brat in June 2024, it inspired TikTok dances, Y2K fashion trends, and even marketing campaigns. Its overall popularity led online fans to coin the term “brat summer” which is about partying and living it up. ^{[1]
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- Charli XCX described the album as “me, my flaws, my f*** ups, [and] my ego all rolled into one.” ^{[2]
  X
  Research source} Many fans embraced this idea as they wanted to apply the singer’s attitude toward their own lives.
- Some describe being “brat” as effortlessly being an it-girl.

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Section 2 of 7:

Brat Summer Origins

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Brat summer began when Charli XCX released the album Brat . Pop singer Charli XCX released her 6th album, Brat , on June 7, 2024. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard charts, and fans quickly turned it into an aesthetic trend inspired by the album’s neon green cover and party animal vibes. The trend blew up on TikTok, with tens of thousands of posts under the “brat summer” hashtag. ^{[3]
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- Some believe the trend became so popular because it’s seen as a rejection of the “clean girl” aesthetic, which encourages a very groomed, pristine version of femininity. Brat, on the other hand, embraces being messy and free.

Section 3 of 7:

How to Have a Brat Summer

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There is no “right” way to have a brat summer. While the aesthetic is based on partying, the best way to be “brat” is to be confident , bold , and rebellious. Let go of any people-pleasing tendencies, get a little messy, and do what makes you happy, even if other people don’t like it.
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Dress in bold, neon clothes. While you can dress however you want and still have a brat summer, there is a certain aesthetic associated with the trend. The brat style is inspired by Y2K fashion, featuring graphic baby tees, wraparound sunglasses, and Von Dutch trucker hats. The main color scheme is neon green and black, though any bold, bright colors also work. ^{[4]
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- Charli XCX describes the aesthetic as “It can be, like, so trashy. Just, like, a pack of cigs and a Bic lighter. And like, a strappy white top with no bra. That’s kind of all you need.” ^{[5]
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Charli XCX describes brat as being “that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes.” ^{[6]
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Research source} It’s about partying through the breakdowns and heartaches and enjoying life. Don’t be afraid to go out and have fun with your friends. Live life to the fullest—whatever that means for you!”

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Section 4 of 7:

Kamala is Brat Meme Origins

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This was shortly after President Biden dropped out of the presidential race. On July 21, 2024, Charli XCX posted “Kamala IS brat” on X (Twitter) , showing her support for Vice President Kamala Harris to run for president. ^{[7]
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Soon after the post was made, fans began editing videos of Harris with songs from Brat playing in the background. Many also incorporated the coconut tree meme, which samples Harris saying, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” ^{[8]
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The Kamala HQ campaign changed their banner on X to mimic the Brat album cover, featuring a lime green background with “kamala hq” written in low-res text. On Instagram, they made a post inspired by the brat aesthetic and included Charli XCX’s original tweet in the slideshow. ^{[9]
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Section 5 of 7:

What is the “Apple” TikTok dance?

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The “Apple” dance is one of the most popular Brat trends. As songs from the Brat album began to spread on TikTok and other social media, the song “Apple” became an immediate fan favorite. A fan named Kelley Heyer created a dance routine to “split the apple down symmetrical lines” according to the song's lyrics. The dance went viral, as many fans and celebrities alike began posting videos on their own TikTok profiles. ^{[10]
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- Charli XCX herself has even posted videos doing the dance. Other celebrities who’ve done the dance include Daisy Edgar-Jones (with Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos) , Kerry Washington , and Ashley Tisdale .

Section 6 of 7:

Is brat summer over?

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Charli XCX announced brat summer was over on Labor Day, 2024. As summer 2024 began to die down, so did the brat summer trend, leaving many wondering if it was officially “over.” On September 2, 2024, Charli XCX put an end to the debate by posting “goodbye forever brat summer” on her social media pages. ^{[11]
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- Many fans decided that while brat summer may be over, they were going to continue celebrating with “brat autumn.”
- Fans in the southern hemisphere also intended to keep brat summer alive, as the trend occurred during winter in their half of the world.

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Section 7 of 7:

Similar TikTok Trends

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Inspired by the song “Hot Girl Summer” by Megan Thee Stallion, this TikTok trend is all about being yourself and being the life of the party. For many, this means going out, meeting new people, and being flirty. Being confident is key to having a hot girl summer . ^{[12]
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Rat girl summer is a TikTok trend created by Lola Kolade, who posted a video encouraging people to “embrace the rodent energy.” It involves “scurrying” outside, eating nutritious meals and yummy snacks, and not feeling embarrassed about doing the things you enjoy. ^{[13]
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Feral girl summer is a social media trend that encourages people to embrace a chaotic, authentic lifestyle without worrying about what others think. It’s about having fun and living life to the fullest and is likely the trend that led to rat girl summer. ^{[14]
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Demure fall is all about slowing down and being more mindful. In contrast to brat summer, it's about being modest, understated and elegant, not loud and messy. The term was coined based on a viral video made by Jools Lebron on TikTok.
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Christian girl autumn began as a meme mocking women for enjoying stereotypical autumn aesthetics and activities, like sweaters, scarves, and pumpkin spice lattes. However, in recent years, people have begun to embrace the meme and express their excitement for these fall staples. ^{[15]
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The clean girl aesthetic is a popular TikTok trend that embraces minimalism in fashion and beauty. It typically involves sleek hair and subtle makeup and strives for an effortless look. ^{[16]
X
Research source} Many believe the clean girl aesthetic is the opposite of the brat aesthetic, which embraces being messy and fun.

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About This Article

Reviewed by:

Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Social Media Marketing Expert

This article was reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . Anyah Gilmore-Jones is a Social Media Marketing Expert based in Nashville, Tennessee. An innovative experiential and social media marketer, Anyah is skilled at creating engaging brand experiences and leverages her passion for connecting people and ideas to drive organic growth for purpose-driven brands. As the founder of GROW by Gilmore, a social media strategy company, Anyah develops data-driven social media strategies focused on authentic community building. She has over 4 years of experience spearheading viral campaigns and producing content for brands like HBCU Buzz, Black & Scholared, SHEIN, and Project Art Collective. She received her BA from Howard University in Political Science and Government.

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Co-authors: 3

Updated: November 11, 2024

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Categories: Youth Culture | Tik Tok

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