Emma Chamberlain never signed up to be an It girl.
In an interview with Byrdie published Tuesday, the Youtuber and businesswoman, 23, opened up about her public status, which was further solidified after she made an appearance in Charli XCX’s icionic “360” music video in May 2024.
Asked if she enjoys the complimentary label, Chamberlain revealed she actually rejects it.
“To me, it’s a little toxic,” she told the outlet. “I’m not saying I don’t like the concept of an It girl, or the actual It girls, but there is something a little exclusionary about it to me that I don’t like. We’re adults!”
“There being It girls makes the internet feel like high school to me,” she adds.
Chamberlain may have risen to fame for her relatability as a 17-year-old making daily YouTube vlogs, but her quirky-cool style quickly brought her into the fashion sphere, earning her deals with Louis Vuitton and Lancôme.
She also has served as a Vogue correspondent during the Met Gala in recent years.
The Chamberlain Coffee founder is known to push boundaries with her outfits and test out unique, often thrifted, pieces, but not everything she wears is straight off the runway.
“[People will call me] an It girl or this hot girl, then if I wear an outfit that’s very much me in the sense that it’s comfortable and maybe a bit less sexy, then it’s like, ‘Emma turned ugly. She’s no longer an It girl,’” she explained before calling out her haters.
“But you made me that way! You told me that’s who I was,” Chamberlain continued. “Maybe I wear a cute little outfit and I’m in the Charli video one day, [and] maybe the next day I look like an old woman, but that’s because that’s who I am.”
“You’re disappointed because you put me in this box. It’s definitely a compliment — so I’ll take it if you guys want to put me in the box — but don’t get mad when I wear a little cashmere bonnet on my head and go out for the day.”
Chamberlain has always been open about her mental health, previously discussing anxiety and telling Page Six in 2023 she’s “had her fair share of existential crises.”
One thing’s for sure, her authenticity is definitely the trait of an It girl.