The Blondes Are Taking September By Storm

Three big-name blondes have been taking the internet by storm this month: Alix Earle, Sydney Sweeney (once again), and Taylor Swift. These three women have been successful in their respective industries for some time now and are making waves this month in pop culture and what’s been trending. Whether you like or dislike them, I’m pretty confident that you follow or have at least heard of all three, and now it’s up to you to decide if they truly have more fun.

New Netflix Binge Just Dropped: Earle Meets World

Alix Earle is a TikTok famous, influencer personality who gained fame filming lifestyle content as a college student at the University of Miami. Since graduating, she’s retained her followers and amassed more with her “get ready with me” vids and inside looks into all things glamorous as a fun-loving 25 year old now making content full-time. From filming OOTDs in her dorm to dating “NFL man” to being spotted at a club with THE NFL man Tom Brady. Her life is anything but normal, yet her openness and lens as the “cool older sister” makes her enjoyable to watch.

On September 4th, Netflix released a reality show featuring Earle and her family titled Earle Meets World, which is a playful nod to the popular 90s television series Boy Meets World. This 8 episode series centers around Earle and her blended family with her, her younger sister Ashtin who has also amassed quite the following, her mother, and her step mother being the main focus. The goal of the show is likely to give an even deeper insight into her life and the people that have molded her life. With the Kardashian family paving the way for reality TV and family dynamics, it’s no doubt the Earle’s were trying their hand in gaining that same sentiment. 

There’s been mixed reviews regarding its entertainment value and whether or not the series is worth your time. I personally didn’t mind the series, although I haven’t watched it in its entirety, it didn’t fully capture my attention and wouldn't suggest it to others. A more blunt review by Variety magazine ran a headline titled “Alix Earle’s Insane Netflix Reality Show ‘Earle Meets World’ Is Like Watching Paint Dry: TV Review”. Yikes, I doubt that’s the headline you want to read after your Netflix debut but the honesty is refreshing and humorous from an outside perspective. Basically, the article notes that Earle is only relevant because she’s a hot, blue-eyed blonde who captivates audiences with her looks but lacks any real sustenance. While that view is in the eye of the beholder, one thing is for certain: Earle’s following and engagement speak for itself. While her series may rub some as boring, they still tuned in to watch at the end of the day.

Another Sweeney Ad, Another Not-So-Surprising Controversy

Sydney Sweeney, most notably known for her role as the beloved “dumb blonde” in the hit series Euphoria, has again appeared in yet another controversial ad campaign. Last year’s American Eagle campaign sparked backlash by insinuating that Sweeney had the perfect jeans (genes) and blonde hair and blue eyes. While most people would likely have ran to deny the connection and defend the importance of diversity, Sweeney seemed unfazed and has yet to make a statement, let alone an apology over the negative connotation. Now here she is again, caught up in another controversy, begging the question: is she really that naive or does she just not care? 

This time around, she’s featured semi-nude in a sports ad for Novig, a New York City-based peer-to-peer sports trading application where users can bet on outcomes of games and player performance among other stats. With this male-dominated vision, why not feature a hot blonde to spark interest and generate buzz? While I have no doubt that much of their target audience fell for just that, it did not have the same sentiment from women. With women’s sports always in the shadow of men’s, it’s no surprise that many found Sweeney’s cameo to be demeaning and overly sexualized. In the world of sports, women have to work harder to prove themselves, so this is an insult to what women in sports look like.

Since the video’s post date on September 9th, there has been a trend circulating online where women athletes show themselves in their sport and directly call out Sweeney, correcting the image of what a true woman in sports looks like. This TikTok posted by Headquarters demonstrates the same concept. So while this campaign was controversial and did not accurately reflect women in sports, the true athletes who put in the work showed up to correct the narrative.

New Muse, New Music: Taylor’s Newest Singles

Taylor Swift announced via social media on September 22nd that she was releasing new music, specifically her new single “Patient Zero” and album Life of A Showgirl: The Encore, on September 25th. These announcements were trending and creating buzz within a matter of minutes. The music video for “Patient Zero” was released and featured star-studded cameos including Dakota Johnson, Cara Delevingne, Colin Farrell, and various athletes. The video has amassed almost 3 million views in less than 24 hours of being posted. 

I personally have not heard too much about her new release aside from people making fun of her lyrics and the general vibe of her music. I saw one user on TikTok say, “I miss when Joe Alwyn was her muse,” no doubt getting at the difference between her new singles and her old music prior to dating and marrying NFL running back Travis Kelce. I am no longer a Swiftie nor a fan of her newer music, so I am not the girl to be lending a critical eye to whether or not Swift has fallen off.

Again, hate as they may, Swift is one of the most popular, well-known, and highest-grossing female artists of all time. She will always have the support of her loyal fans, and people will always listen to the music she puts out, whether it's to hate or sing her praise.

These three blondes have all risen to fame in differing ways and continue to stay in the spotlight years after their initial popularity. What makes these women so successful? They know how to market themselves and generate buzz around the content they put out. Whether viewed in a positive or negative light, they know how to get people talking and have taken this September by storm.

About the Author

Jaelyn is a senior majoring in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Applied Communication. This is her second semester serving as Firm Editor and her fourth semester with GrandPR, having previously served as an AA and AE. This is her last semester on campus at GVSU. After graduation, she plans to work in an agency in metro Detroit and move internally in either the sports, food and beverage, or automotive industries.