I think we can all agree that 2020 was probably the worst start to the new decade with a near-war with Iran, massive fires in Australia and the outbreak of COVID-19. The summer of 2020 was just — not it. Lucky for you, the future of the summer of 2021 is looking bright, but let’s spice it up with a step-by-step guide on how to have the most iconic hot girl (or boys and non-identifying people) summer. 

The first step to having a hot girl summer is to know about its origin and what hot girl summer means. This term was first coined by hip-hop superstar Megan Thee Stallion in her song “Hot girl summer,” featuring Ty Dolla Sign and Nicki Minaj. 

“Handle me?/Huh/Who gon’ handle me? /Who?/Thinkin’ he’s a player/e’s a member on the team,” Stallion proclaimed in her song. “He put in all that work/He wanna be the MVP/boy, bye/I told him ain’t no taming me.”

Stallion promotes female empowerment throughout her song, saying she cannot be claimed by one person during hot girl summer. This empowerment can be applied to all genders. Don’t let the “girl” in “hot girl summer” stop you from being your best self.

So what can you learn from this song? Hold yourself to a high standard and don’t settle for anything less than what you deserve. Have fun, and don’t let other people’s opinions affect how you live your life. Be true to your identity rather than catering to what society tells you is appropriate, and never base your self-worth on validation from others. 

This is the true meaning of a “hot girl summer.” Drill this mentality into your head before going into summer.

Next step: Wear whatever you want. Scared of judgment? Don’t be. Remember, we now do not care about what other people have to say. If you want to wear that bikini, do it. If you want to wear those swim trunks, do it. If you want to wear that Furry cosplay, (Don’t) do it! Express yourself freely through your clothes, and wear whatever makes you feel confident and beautiful, because only the way you perceive yourself matters. 

After completing the first two steps in having a hot girl summer, people will admire you for embracing yourself and your ability to be comfortable in your own skin. You’ll find your own confidence will skyrocket as well. Now is the perfect time to get that one person you’ve been wanting for forever. If you put it into perspective, it’s actually not too hard; just successfully leave the talking stage without getting emotionally scarred. Easy right? 

If they reject you, cry for a couple of days, then enter the streets. It’s good to take a walk every once in a while. I can assure you that you will have a lot of fun on the streets, and you’ll meet many new friends. Just be safe; You don’t want any surprises. 

Finally, and most importantly, be the best version of yourself. This requires taking some risks, but it’s important to note mistakes are (actually only sometimes) good –– without risks, you can’t reap the benefits. Focus on actively improving yourself and make sure to stay positive. 

If you fail to follow these steps, you’ll risk having a hot girl bummer, and you don’t want that, do you. Anyways, I wish you all the best, good luck!