It girl

American  

Or it girl

noun

1. a young woman with sex appeal and a magnetic personality.

2. an extremely popular and attractive young socialite or celebrity.

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It girl British  

noun

1. a rich, usually attractive, young woman who spends most of her time shopping or socializing

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Etymology

Origin of It girl

The nickname given to the sex symbol Clara Bow, subject of the 1927 novel and movie It , written by Elinor Glyn, who popularized the concept of it ¹ in the slang sense “sex appeal”

Example Sentences

Addison Rae, “Fame Is a Gun” Want to know how this TikToker became an internet It girl overnight?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025

In July, she dropped debut single Angel of My Dreams, and she kicked off 2025 with a banger: a dance-pop track called It girl, which appears to take a swipe at the wider music industry.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2025

"At the time I was the It girl of London, on the social scene, everyone knew me, I was at every dinner event," Hervey explained.

From Fox News • Jan. 18, 2022

Photograph: Photograph: Allstar/Dreamworks But soon after, Apatow called him to a screen test in New York with Schumer, the Comedy Central It girl who’s having a huge cultural moment right now.

From The Guardian • Aug. 13, 2015

Winona Ryder plays his sympathetic love interest, securing her reign post-Beetlejuice and Heathers as the quintessential It girl for goths and slackers everywhere.

From Time • Dec. 20, 2013