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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.


It girl British  

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"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

Normandie Keith's image as an "It girl" was secured when society bible Tatler featured her alongside Tara on the cover of its November 1996 issue.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2017

Like singer Marianne Faithfull's revelatory autobiography "Faithfull," which detailed her life as a '60s "It" girl, Rolling Stones muse, junkie and chanteuse, Albertine throughout the decades questions assumptions of femininity, propriety and creativity.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2014

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

She's no Oxhey moron, she's the new witchy It girl.

From The Guardian • Jul. 14, 2011