What is a “Cool Girl” in 2026?

I asked myself this as I considered ordering tarot cards from Amazon, then immediately realized how it was deeply self-serving. What is a “cool girl?” I think often. I think it stems from working from a young age, and now in sports. It also doesn’t help that I grew up fat. My mind flashes to Rosamund Pike’s iconic monologue in Gone Girl.

I constantly want to be viewed in a light that is both cool yet mature. I find myself gravitating towards leadership positions, but I doubt my ability to be good at it. I try so hard to relate to people, but find it so easy to stop caring. Most of this is completely counterintuitive, but it’s just how my brain works.

What is a cool girl? That is the question. Why is she a cool girl? Is it her accomplishments? Her personality? Her body? At what point do we stop being cool? Is it age? A mistake? Circumstance? I continue to ask myself as I prepare to graduate from college, and finally rip my claws off of being viewed as a child. And at what point do we stop caring about cool? When we’re tenured? When we’re lonely? When there’s no hope?

Rather than focus on these deeply depressing ideas, I choose to explore the joy that is in my life. Is it the opportunities I get, like a job? Is it the people who have become part of my story? Is it the places that I’ve seen? Well, as I find my way towards being my ideal “cool girl,” I want to document this journey and inspire other people to step outside their comfort zone and see the world the way they wanna have in their head.

Hi! I’m Maddy, a twenty-two almost college graduate, looking as I take my next big step in life. A little about me. I currently run a publication and work for a minor league hockey team, while donating my 9-5 to corporate events. I love film photography, having a bts pass to concerts and music festivals, and having far too strong opinions on top 40s hits. I’ve been described as a film bro for romcoms from before I was sentient and a lab rat made to work in guest service. I love creativity and self-expression, and am fighting the inevitable demise of a 9-5 corporate lifestyle, and pursue storytelling.

So, I’m rounding up all my baddies for “A Cool Girl’s Guide to…” (Pretty Much Everything). Because, as we all know, cool girl is simply a state of mind.