In an article for The Cut, Matthew Schneier defined an “It Girl” as someone who is “Famous for being out, famous for being young, famous for being fun, famous for being famous.” And we can’t think of a better way to explain what an It Girl is.
The It Girl phenomenon is a fun one, and while the moniker implies it’s a one-and-only kind of thing, it’s not. At any given time, there are dozens of It Girls walking the planet and gracing our phone screens, TVs, and magazine covers.
We’re celebrating some of the biggest and boldest It Girls from the last 100 years. These are far from the only It Girls of their respective times, but there’s no denying the star power that each of these ladies emanates. It’s all about those magical qualities that are hard to define.
1920s: Clara Bow
Clara Bow has been called the original It Girl many times. She starred in a 1927 film titled It, and everyone was talking about the sexy and magnetic “It Girl” from the movie. And the phenomenon was born! Clara was a flapper girl, and images of her are dripping with that Roaring Twenties aesthetic. Her bright red hair and perky nature made her irresistible to the public. Even modern It Girls like Taylor Swift have honored her OG It Girl reputation.
1930s: Shirley Temple
We know, we know Shirley Temple might not be the kind of It Girl you’re thinking of. But she was out, she was quite young, she was famous, and she was adorably fun. At the height of the Great Depression, Shirley Temple gave America a reason to laugh, sing, and believe again. Every movie she did was a massive hit, and in the ‘30s alone, she did nearly 30 films. We won’t get into the child labor issues, but the point is Shirley was IT and she was everywhere.
1940s: Ingrid Bergman
The 1940s overflowed with It Girls, from Joan Crawford to Bette Davis to Rita Hayworth. But Ingrid Bergman and her teary-eyed, luminous performance in the classic Cassablanca took the cake. But she did a handful of other movies during the ‘40s that cemented her spot as It Girl, including Gaslight, which was responsible for a whole new way to accuse your partner of being toxic.
1950s: Marilyn Monroe
No list of It Girls is complete without Marilyn. She was and is one of the most captivating and enchanting individuals ever to grace Hollywood, and she is the definition of a bombshell. Her legacy, albeit complex and muddied, is enduring. We could argue she’s still an It Girl — even in death. Part of what makes It Girls so alluring is their mystery, and no one had more mystery swirling around them than Marilyn.
1960s: Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn is another icon in every sense of the word. She was even inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1961. That happens to be the same year the quirky and charming film Breakfast at Tiffany’s came out. But our Audrey wasn’t just beloved for her film roles. Her street style was unique and dazzling, with tiny cinched waists and bright pops of color.
1970s: Grace Jones
Grace Jones is a glamazing, multi-talented woman who transcends being pegged to any one industry. She’s a singer, songwriter, model, and actress, and dominated every industry she entered. She is one of the most fabulous It Girls of all time because Mz. Grace broke the mold. She isn’t conventionally cute or sexy like Marilyn and Audrey. No. Grace ushered in a fresh definition of It Girl — one that stands to this day.
1980s: Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston became a global superstar and certified It Girl when her album Whitney came out and bewitched the world. From the absolute bop that is “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” to the raw and funky sound of “So Emotional,” Whitney was a vibrant and exciting It Girl who made us all want to dance (with somebody who loves us). While her fashion choices don’t fit with today’s aesthetics, her fluffy skirts and neon leotards were on-point for the ‘80s.
1990s: Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder was the coolest of the cool in the 1990s. She may have been on Johnny Depp’s arm (ewww) for the first third of the decade, but all eyes were on her and her edgy vibe. Everyone loved her movies, but it was her distinct style and rowdy backstory (she grew up on a hippie commune) that caught our attention. From the slinky slip dresses and tiny sunglasses to her edgy attitude, she wasn’t your mother’s It Girl.
2000s: Beyoncé
We could make a case that Beyoncé is the It Girl of the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, annnd the 2020s. We’d bet good money she’ll still be hot and around in the 2030s. But we’re crowning her the It Girl of the 2000s because that’s when she took home five Grammys in 2004 and her star hit the stratosphere. From the tiny tupe tops to the hip-hugging jeans, her 2000s style was iconic. We miss her crimped hair and bubbly personality, but when you’re as famous as Bey and Jay in 2023, you’re bound to get more private (and straighten your hair).
2010s: Ariana Grande
Ariana’s glow up is one for the history books. In 2010, she was still a little girl doing Nickelodeon shows. But by 2019, she was a Grammy-winning pop star who dating celebrities like Mac Miller, Big Sean, and Pete Davidson, just to name a few. Her evolution only continues, taking her from saucy pop star with cat eyeliner to some iteration of Glinda the Good Witch, but the 2010s were a major decade for her and her fans.
2020s: Taylor Swift
The decade is only half over, but we have to give the 2020s to Taylor. The Grammys won, the records smashed, the concerts performed — she is on quite a hot streak and doesn’t seem to be burning out anytime soon. In this decade alone, she’s released four new albums, not including those she re-recorded. Her romantic life is an eternally trending topic, whether she’s getting ghosted by Matty Healy or cheering on Travis Kelce. Her stardom has reached new heights, and we’re ready with popcorn to see how high she can go.
