I put a spell on you: the power of ‘girl crushes’

Growing up, I was addicted to the television show Charmed.  From the age of seven, the concept of three young beautiful women with supernatural powers and a feminist ‘we can conquer all’ attitude greatly appealed to me.  I idolised the charmed sisters, with a ludicrous ideal that maybe one day I’d grow up to be like them.  As I grew older, their powers intrigued me less and I instead began focusing on how perfectly petite Alyssa Milano looked in a pair of sweatpants and tight ’90s tank top or how Holly Combs’s smile gave me butterflies for no apparent reason.

Today, it’s Amanda Seyfried who warms the cockles of my heart. The way her cat shaped blue eyes widen onscreen, her beige blonde hair cascading in waves over her shoulders, her soft lilting voice and above all, her extensive acting repertoire.  One might say, I idealise her and almost every woman admires at least one famous female figure, whether fictitious or real, in their lives. Someone they may even romanticise over occasionally.

Girl crushes: What’s the big deal?

According to Kathryn Williams, fascination with anyone stems from the ‘image you’ve created, not with the reality’ and an admiration that is born from the perfect unattainability of someone.  Wanting what you can’t have, for example.  But why is this labeled as a ‘girl crush’? The phrase reminds me of something battered around in the sand pit.   Something illicit to giggle over naughtily.  Williams believes women experience these types of idolisations in their adolescent years, coining the term ‘crush’ to describe a preteen, almost infantile stage of infatuation.

However, perhaps we have created this phrase to recognise that we can have an infatuation, without it being considered sexual.  After all, I don’t want to bed Amanda; I simply want to be her.

Idolising someone isn’t a new trend — it’s been around forever.  We admire certain women for an array of different reasons from their intellect to their courage in a political movement to something as simple as a flattering hairstyle.

Girl crushes could be considered a form of evolution.  Knowing that we can recognise positive attributes in each other, even if these attributes are often blown out of proportion, help us to create goals and aspirations.  According to Guardian journalist, Eva Wiseman, girl crushes dissuade us away from unhealthy competition and  ‘jealousy’ and eradicate the stereotype that women dislike one another.

Whether we choose to call it a crush, idolisation, emulation or deep admiration, the ability to step back and acknowledge someone else for their accomplishments, beauty or talent is both gracious and humbling, and while no heroine is perfect, it’s natural to believe the one you look up to, possesses goddess like traits.

Now, please excuse me while I return to flipping through the overly photoshopped, glossy pages featuring Amanda Seyfried.

By Sophia Anna

What about you, Lipsters? Who have you got a ‘girl crush’ on?