Things To Bring Back Your Repressed Memories Of Being A Teenage Fangirl
Whether we were secretive about it or wore our obsession on our sleeves, just about all of us went through a period when we were overwhelmingly infatuated with a certain band, book, movie character, etc. I almost feel like it's a rite of passage to be way too emotionally involved in a celebrity or television series, sit and watch interviews about them, and delve deep into fan theories and fanfiction.
You may have pushed all of your memories from that time into the depths of your subconscious, but not for long.
You Would've Sold Your Soul To Be The "One Less Lonely Girl"
Anyone who ever went to a Justin Bieber concert during his early years aspired to win the honor of being dragged onstage and serenaded to the song "One Less Lonely Girl" by Justin himself. Girls at my school cried for days after someone else was chosen.
Your Fave Could Do No Wrong
The headline could be "Boy Band Member Runs Over 12 People With Car" and you'd still find a way to believe that it was all an accident and the news was vilifying him/her.
...Like, Literally No Wrong
I think, when I was at the ripe old age of 15, that any member of One Direction could have stabbed me and left me to bleed out in the street and I would still say, "Thanks, but can I get an autograph?"
It's Hard To See Someone Else Living Your Dream
I may have been thirst-tweeting onto the internet on a regular basis, but Halsey actually scored gold. It may be seven years later, but she still caught the attention of the man she was obsessed with.
Keeping Up With The Fandom Was A Full-Time Job
If you were really invested in the fandom, you were keeping up with all the fan updates about what your fave(s) said in recent interviews, new outfits they wear, and if they revealed a little extra info about what they look for in a girl.
You Started Trying To Look Like Your Faves, Real And Fictional
You can bet that I spent the better part of 2012 wearing my hair in a complex side braid styled after Katniss Everdeen, paired with a pair of bright Converse that seemed the be standard for every other "edgy" female novel character.
The Accuracy Of This Hurts A Little
After puberty hit, I slowly peeled all my band posters off my walls, traded my bright blue bedding for a white duvet, and hid all the remnants of my fan stage in my parents' basement.
Good Joke, But My Love Life Exists Entirely As A Fantasy!
First of all, I was an unattractive, poorly proportioned 14-year-old with acne who boys at school made fun of. Secondly, please let me read this 25 chapter fanfic in peace.
All My Wattpad Veterans, Stand Up!
The writing process always started with you having a great idea and bumping out five chapters in one week before losing momentum, updating sporadically, and having readers berate you demanding the next chapter.
All You Wanted Was To Be Picked Out From The Crowd
You tried on 15 separate outfits before deciding on the perfect one. Throughout the whole concert, you hoped that one of the band members would spot you in the crowd, instantly fall in love with you, then ask security to bring you backstage.
We Bond Through Our Obsession
A lot of young people turned toward external sources—like bands and books—to gain a sense of belonging when social life at school was toxic, and there was some sort of intense bond formed when you realized you'd found someone like you.
Even To This Day, Fandom Hot Topics Haunt You
We were all so worked up about the infamous scarf during Taylor Swift's Red era, but honestly, did she get it back? There are so many unanswered questions left in the fandom.
This Is What Your Browser History Looked Like
My favorite hobby was to do these quizzes obsessively, and if I didn't get the answer I wanted, I would do the quiz again and slightly tailor my answers to them.
New Fans Don't Understand What Old Fans Went Through
Did you cry for three days straight when Harry Styles said that he preferred blondes to brunettes in that one 2011 interview? Because I did. You don't understand the emotional trauma I went through.
All Fanfiction Was The Same, But We Loved It
I don't care how overdone and predictable it was, "there is only one bed" was the greatest plot advancer ever created. The seething tension between the two people who hate each other waking up cuddling was *chef's kiss*
You Basically Had Your Own Language
There was nothing like going into school and saying that you ship the new couple only for people to look at you in utter confusion, forcing you to remember that not everyone has a Tumblr page devoted to their favorite band.
The Remnants Of Your Obsession Are Hidden From The Public
Even if you are a fully grown woman and have put your fangirl days behind you, you still will make sure you hide any memorabilia from those days before your hookup comes over.
You Strategically Remove Your Obsession From The Internet
You shut down your old fandom Tumblr account(s) and strategically delete all of your past thirst and obsession tweets before employers could find them. Your past remains a secret you'll take to the grave.
As You Get Older, You Realize That There Was Nothing Wrong With Your Fangirl Tendencies
As you get older, grow more aware of how society works, and begin to understand how sexism is embedded into our perceptions of the world, you realize that people mocking you and your interests was unfair and systemically orchestrated.
Besides, Fangirls Have Been And Will Always Be A Thing
The same people who love to mock young women for liking Justin Bieber, One Direction, Five Seconds of Summer, and hot television characters also once lost their minds over the Beatles.
