Girl World #20: Comfort Creators, Hot Smart Rich, Sex & the City Nostalgia, Friendship Trios, Women of the Year Lessons, Gut Biome, Personal Branding, Spicy Romance, 2025 Fashion & Beauty

You might have noticed we took a little two-week hiatus to remodel the Girl World house. After 5 months of Girl World and some incredible feedback, we are changing things up to add more insights, stories, and news in the Girl World newsletter itself. So, buckle up, babes. We have a lot to talk about.

Let’s start with the rising trend in comfort creators. 2025 came in hot with the drama, the strife, and the discontent. It’s no wonder we’re seeking comfort. One hot trend for social media in 2025 is comfort creators. Think cozy little apartments, slow evening routines, quirky pottery hobbies, comfy Saturdays filled with coffees and matchas and books, museum visits, and ballet. We step into their world to take a break. Here are 3 creators we love to follow to get you started: Hannah, Ana, Kiersten.

We’re obsessed with Maggie Seller’s Hot Smart Rich podcast. She recently sat down with Kristine Locker, who is the founder & CEO of Locker, a social shopping platform, to discuss what it’s like to build a brand, how failing is part of the job, and understanding the consumer market. 

We love Maggie and her mission. But, one thing stood out in a recent podcast interview on Unlike Me: she was super successful in her career, but she wasn’t the main character in her business and that held her back. It all changed when she decided she was the brand. This is something so many women face: we take on incredible projects, surpass goals, make history for our clients or the business we work for—and nobody knows about it.

Also, Maggie’s skin is fire so we’re always looking for her skincare tips. She has a newsletter, HSR ICYMI, where she talks business, start-ups, beauty, investing, and a little bit of everything in between. We’re subscribers and love her case studies, too!

We’re capping this week’s news with a touch of nostalgia. If you loved Sex & the City, you’re gonna love Kristin Davis’s new podcast, Are You a Charlotte? It’s full of behind the scene storytelling and podcast guests who guest-starred on the show, co-stars, and more. LOVE.

1. We’re obsessed with Emily Sundberg and her daily Substack newsletter, Feed Me—so is the New York Times, Airmail, and Puck’s The Grill Room podcast. She’s also featured in J.Crew’s new, fun collab with The New Yorker. She’s a media it-girl right now. We have a few one-month trial subscriptions to gift you. The first 5 people to email us at [email protected] can snag them.

2. White Lotus Season 3 premiered last Sunday—and we’re here for it. While we’re devastated by the theme music change (RIP), there’s a larger discussion happening around friendship trios and toxic friendships. Carrie Coon’s character Laurie’s crash out was oh-so-relatable and it’s put a spotlight on our friendship experiences—good and bad.

3. Brenda Song is stepping into a new phase and she’s back! If you haven’t watched her new show with Kate Hudson, Running Point, add it to your watch list this weekend. And, spend some time getting re-acquainted with one of our favorite childhood stars through this Marie Claire feature.

4. Women’s March organizer and civil rights activist, Tamika Mallory, sat down with Vanity Fair to have a real conversation about politics and civic engagement in this painful period of American history. She has a new book coming out—and she still has hope because we’ve been in deep waters before, we know how to swim.

5. Addison Rae’s Rolling Stone cover story is still being talked about across the internet. Her rebrand is top-notch and it’s a great lesson for anyone who hasn’t quite found their niche. Your brand is everything in today’s world. Take note and build one for yourself. It’ll make the difference whether you’re job hunting, looking for a promotion, or starting your own business. And, let’s take a moment for Brittany Spanos. She authored this piece and she has written so many other amazing features. She a writer to watch. In the meantime, devour her work.

6. What happens when a teenager develops a crush on a teacher? This article explores the journey of the writer’s infatuation and it’s worth all 20 minutes it takes to read this story. And, then the 5 (ok, 10) minutes thinking about all of our crushes.

Time magazine released their Women of the Year this week.

We love an inspirational interview or story so here’s what we learned about a few of the honorees: 

Nicole Kidman is authenticity and emotional vulnerability personified. Her thoughtfulness and ability to connect is demonstrated throughout the interview and her success in TV and film. She stands in her power and worth and uses it to create change and positive impact: by starring in films directed by women and taking roles showcasing midlife for women—a former rarity in Hollywood. 

She also understands the economic power of her brand and ability to say yes. She loves to work, but gets fatigued just like everyone else. However, she also recognizes that every job she says yes to creates an ecosystem of more jobs for the movie and entertainment industry. Every single person has value and can create change for others.

Lesson: Your authenticity is powerful. Knowing your worth and recognizing your power are life-changing.

Anna Sawai might be an award-winning actress known best for her role in Shōgun, but she was once a singer. The moment she decided to quit that career, tackle something new, and pursue acting was pivotable for her. As she states, it take courage to start something new. But, the regret would be worse. If it’s on your heart, pursue it.

While she is successful in period pieces, she isn’t looking to do something that she’s already good at. She wants to explore new roles and genres. She lives for the challenge. 

Lesson: Take the chance. Have faith in yourself and pursue the thing you’ve been thinking about. And, take the opportunity to challenge yourself by doing something new. That’s where the real growth happens. 

Gymnast Jordan Chiles and WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson are Olympians of note—and they’re friends. They’re both multi-talented women: A’ja Wilson has back-to-back WNBA championships, Olympic Gold, a best-selling book, Dear Black Girls, and recently unveiled her signature shoe. Jordan Chiles has won silver and gold at the Olympics, attends UCLA, and has a memoir, I’m That Girl, out in March. 

While supporting each other, they also speak to the expectation that women (especially black women) have to embody perfection to be successful. They both have crowns and it may need to be straightened from time to time—but they’re going to do “the thing” regardless of whether it’s perfect or not. They also discuss mental health and how important it is to get that right. We know, all too well, that this world is hard enough without us beating ourselves up, too.

Lesson: Surround yourself with people who love you and support you through the wins and the losses. Tend to your relationships, focus on your mental health, and remember: you are loved.

Tackling gut health and cancer prevention: Doctors and scientists have noted that there’s a sizable increase in colorectal cancer in recent years amoung young adults. We’ve seen story after story of young women in their 20s being diagnosed with a cancer that was most-often found in people over 50. While there’s not one resounding reason why this is happening, many scientists contribute the modern ultra-processed diet as a major contributor given it’s role in changing the gut biome.

From better mental health to weight management and stronger immunity, improving our gut biome has so many benefits. A few small changes go a long way, including eating a well-balanced diet, drinking water, exercising, and eating prebiotics and probiotics.

While we focus on eating more protein to manage our hormones, build muscle and lose weight, let’s also shift our focus to eating more fiber. Simply put, we’re not eating enough fiber and that needs to change. In order to be most effective for our bodies, doctors recommend adding fiber through our diet with whole foods and not supplements, mixes, or powders.

This is not medical advice—we’re not doctors, babe. Please consult your physician for medical advice and direction when it comes to anything related to your health.

Weekly Hits: Inside my sugar addiction—the sugar dragon is strong. Reverse aging is real—we’re gonna live forever, like in FAME. Scientists have finally figured out why tomatoes don’t kill you—new fear unlocked and solved in 2 minutes.

Every outfit Taylor Swift wore during the 2024-2025 NFL season. We love a fashion moment.

Are you watching Bridget Jones: Mad About a Boy? Here’s 72 thoughts a writer had while watching it—and really, same.

SNL’s 50th Anniversary Special was fun to watch (mostly!)—and the after party was glam.

Blair Waldorf is joining season 2 of Nobody Wants This—and let us tell you, everyone wants this.

Would you use ChatGPT to fight with your boyfriend? This writer did.

All about beauty trends for 2025—what’s in, what’s out (but, you do you!)

Sex experts agree these are the best rabbit vibrators. You’re welcome.

The divas of the Westminster Dog Show know how to serve. We love a well-placed diva.

The hottest wellness club? The dentist.

Looking for new books to read? These spicy romance books will do the trick. xoxo

Going Out: We’re heading to a happy hour tonight because TGIF! At this point, we should be celebrating every single Friday just because we’re pushing through the week. Tip: are you looking for a way to try a lot of new restaurants without breaking the bank? Go to happy hours. They’re usually a great deal. And, you can easily get into those restaurants with reservations you can never get. Happy hours sitting at the bar will get you in the door. Trust us.

Watching: The SAG Awards are Sunday. So, is the second episode of White Lotus Season 3. You will find us on our couch with a cozy dinner, a Kin drink, and our phones.

Reading: Glamorous Notions and You Are What You Watch

In the Kitchen: Trying out macarons—bless our hearts. And, saving this caramelized shallot pasta for Sunday night.

Moving our Bodies: Strength training is a must for women so try to get it in once this weekend. We’re trying out a new dance class with a friend. No, we will not be reporting back or posting videos on social because it won’t be pretty—or coordinated—the first time. And, a long yoga class on Sunday morning to help us ground and center ourselves for the week.

💋 Jamie | Late August Media Founder

Girl World is a Late August Media publication.