If you’ve been hearing the term “VSCO girl” and find yourself confused, don’t worry, a VSCO girl couldn’t be any less alarming.
The term originated on an editing app called VSCO as early as 2011. The app’s name is an acronym for Visual Supply Company and was founded by Joel Flory and Greg Lutze, and it has transformed how teens express their style. However, its rising popularity didn’t hit until just this year on TikTok. Now, the VSCO girl has become its own subculture.
TikTok has been long-known for being a creative platform for individuals to express themselves via short videos. And this year, TikTok has been used to let users show their VSCO style.
And thus, the VSCO girl was born.
The Legend Grows
While the “VSCO girl” became more popularly known on TikTok, it’s made its way to other platforms. YouTubers are also joining in on the fun by creating videos that help subscribers turn into their very own VSCO girl. While some videos are more instructional and tell you what steps to follow to become one, others poke fun at girls who dress or behave like this.
For some, this can turn into a case of cyberbullying since most videos claim that VSCO girls are annoying. The most annoying feature some may claim is the language that this subculture has developed.
What VSCO Girls Say
“And then I dropped my Hydro Flask.”
Since a Hydro Flask is one of the key elements to a VSCO girl’s style, it’s no surprise that it’s part of their language. However, the other two, may still be a bit confusing.
“Sksksksksk.”
The phrase “Sksksksksk” is considered the rallying cry of VSCO girls. According to Buzzfeed News, “‘Sksksksk’ is a phrase that’s mostly typed, sort of like mashing your keyboard as an exclamation. It can stand in for laughter, or express awkwardness, or be the same as an ‘OMG.’ It’s sort of like saying ‘I can’t even’ if it were still 2013.”
“And I oop.”
The final expression, “And I oop,” stems from Jasmine Masters, a drag queen who competed on Season 7 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 4. Masters is widely known for her vlogs on YouTube, which is how the phrase was discovered. In a video she uploaded in 2015, she accidentally hit her testicles on the camera and as she took a painful pause, blurted out, “oop.” The video has circulated in media since then and has transformed into a viral meme. You can use the expression when something awkward, unexpected, or shocking happens. However, these girls overuse it.
What is VSCO Style?
- Oversized T-shirts as dresses
- Colorful scrunchies on their wrists
- Comfortable Birkenstocks on their feet
- Beachy Puka shell necklaces
- Popular basics from Brandy Melville
- Vibrant stickers on their Hydro Flasks
- Expensive Fjallraven Kanken Backpacks
Want to know more about where VSCO girls come from?
What Is a VSCO girl? — Sources
Vox: VSCO girls and how teen culture goes viral
Buzzfeed News: Like Most Slang, ‘Sksksksk’