The Hot Girl Guide | Operation Beauty with Brains
Following the positive response to the last post in the Hot Girl Guide series, I wanted to dive into the importance of being a beauty with brains. One thing I rarely address within the She Is So Bougie brand is the external side of being bougie, hot, or attractive. While inner beauty is what truly defines you, the outer component still plays a role in how you're perceived. With that in mind, I thought it’d be valuable to create a post focused on ways to enhance your everyday lifestyle to not only be more intellectually sharp but also cultivate qualities that highlight just how smart you are. Let’s get into it!
Section I: Defining Smart.
Many people find it condescending when women talk about the importance of being a woman of substance—someone who brings more to the table than just beauty. They argue that this mindset is unfeminist and that women should be free to live and act however they choose. However, I personally believe the concept of being both hot and smart needs to be emphasized more, especially in today’s generation. We live in a time where platforms like TikTok and YouTube are flooded with misguided advice about what makes a woman valuable, often suggesting that beauty alone is enough. Nonetheless, anyone striving for real success knows that relying solely on looks won’t get you far. I believe in the power of balancing beauty with intelligence, and it’s something I work hard to maintain every single day.
You never want to be the girl whose knowledge is limited to celebrity gossip and drama. Imagine being at a conference where everyone is discussing current political events, and you’re stuck in the background, lost, because you’ve spent more time scrolling through social media than staying informed. Gen Z is often criticized for being out of touch with current events and struggling to hold meaningful conversations. Since most of my audience for She Is So Bougie are fellow Gen Z’ers (myself included), I want to share some essentials to help break away from that stereotype and be someone who is genuinely worth getting to know due to how multi-dimensional you are. Let’s get into some tips.
Section II: Operation Beauty w/ Brains.
Cut the Social Media Usage to a Minimum.
The smartest, most interesting people I know are the ones who use social media sparingly or not at all. They’re mysterious, not posting stories for the sake of wanting to flaunt. Their interests are genuinely their own because they aren’t caught up with influencers or the latest trends. They’re disconnected from all drama, and to me, all of these characteristics are what makes someone truly cool. It’s well-known that people who avoid social media have better focus and stronger attention spans. No matter what anyone says, spending hours scrolling through TikTok or Instagram won’t improve your mental clarity—if anything, it leads to brain rot with long-term outcomes.
In this generation, many people rely heavily on the internet for information. While there are some individuals online who offer solid advice, true gratification comes from seeking guidance from experts—whether through a book, a podcast interview, or someone licensed in that field. Relying on random voices from the internet to dictate how you should live your life is never productive, no matter how convincing they seem. And those who do rely on random influencers to provide them with life advice, that’s what differentiates a truly smart person from someone who’s not. In short, keep the social media usage to a minimum.
Pro Tip: If you’re trying to cut back on social media, start by setting daily time limits to manage your usage. Begin with a couple of hours per day for a few weeks, and once you’re comfortable, gradually reduce it to 30 minutes a day. I started doing this years ago to the point where I’m able to go days, sometimes weeks, without using a singular social media platform. The key is building routines that help you adjust to not relying on your phone as much.
Hot Girls Aren’t Lazy.
Out of all the characteristics used to describe this hot girl, being lazy isn’t one of them. There’s a misconception that truly beautiful women don’t work as hard as the average person, assuming that their looks will be the main factor that helps them get ahead in life. But this is what separates a hot girl from a non-hot girl: hot girls put their all into everything they want to achieve.
They know that if they want abs, they need to make time to go to the gym every single day. They understand that if they want straight A’s, they have to dedicate hours of study and let go of a bit of fun to stay focused on that 4.0 GPA. Laziness doesn’t produce success, and true hot girls know it takes real effort to reach their dreams. Everything you do, you need to learn how to do well. And once you learn how to turn “well” into “perfect,” you’ll establish yourself as a pro—a title every hot girl wants to be known for. You should always strive for the best, even perfection, in anything and everything that represents you.
Learning Goes Beyond School.
I’ve always loved school; the process of learning new material, preparing for tests, and quizzing myself to see if I really retained what I studied. Even though I graduated from college nearly three years ago and don’t plan on starting grad school for a while, I still make it a priority to learn something new every day. The world is so vast, and it’s limiting not to explore new topics, whether they align with your interests or not. I’m saying this to say that being consistent as it relates to expanding your knowledge should always be the goal, no matter where you are in life.
People shy away from learning something new because of the time and effort it takes. But who cares? Becoming well-read takes time, and if that means enrolling in an accredited course—or even a free one on sites like Coursera—then do it. Whether it’s fashion, art, health, or anything else that sparks your interest, try to make it a goal to dive into a new subject a few days a month. Trust me, a truly intelligent person can easily tell the difference between someone well-versed and someone who isn’t. Being that girl who consistently makes an effort to learn shows that, beyond your beautiful face, you’ve got the diverse knowledge to match is a flex.
Pro Tip: Pursuing higher education is not a requirement for fulfilling this title. College doesn’t have to be the end all, but it’s still your responsibility to stay committed to constantly teaching yourself. Lacking a specific degree doesn’t mean you should shy away from learning something new every day. If anything, it should motivate you to work even harder at educating yourself so that you’re never behind intellectually.
Don’t Be Financially Illiterate.
I know everyone wants the glam that comes with being bougie—the handbags, the luxury vacations, the German cars. All of this defines what it means to be a hot, bougie girl. However, real luxury lies in financial literacy. It’s about making investments, maintaining a 401k, and avoiding debt just to keep up with the Joneses. A woman who has her finances in order while still affording the luxury lifestyle that sustains her bougie title is the true definition of beauty with brains.
There are countless beautiful women on the internet showcasing lavish lifestyles, yet living paycheck to paycheck and drowning in debt. Never let the desire for material things interfere with your finances. Your goal should always be to secure your financial future for life and actively build multiple sources of income to ensure that money worries are never an issue.
Always Stay Informed of Current Events.
A couple of years ago, I made a viral text post highlighting the importance of replacing reading Instagram pages like The Shade Room with Forbes Business or Money magazine articles. This topic deserves to be highlighted in this blog post because the end of all of being smart is swapping out toxic, poor-minded habits for ones that offer real learning opportunities.
You need to stay informed about what’s happening in the world—whether it’s a major fashion brand’s stock plummeting with a 30% drop in sales, an update on the election, or even finding out your favorite snack was discontinued due to poor ingredients. Your brain needs to constantly be filled with new updates daily! The key is to always be knowledgeable about something current and relevant. My rule of thumb is to subscribe to one serious publication (e.g., Forbes Business, which delivers a daily email on major news happening in the world) and one fun publication (e.g., Country & Townhouse, WWD, Hypebeast, etc.).
Switch Up Your Hobbies.
What really makes a person interesting is what they choose to do during their free time. You need to constantly be widening your horizons in an effort to make yourself a well-rounded person. Instead of sticking to the same routines, seek out more cultured activities that expand your horizons. Try attending art galleries, theater performances, live music events, and most importantly, travel! You need to constantly seek experiences that enrich your mind and expose you to new ideas and perspectives.
On the contrary, make it a priority to attend seminars and networking events in your area. If you’re trying to be more intelligent, being around those who are a bit more advanced than you are is a great step and they can be used to serve as inspiration as well. These events are essential for meeting like-minded individuals who inspire and challenge you.
In Conclusion…
The biggest investment you can make is in yourself, which includes nourishing your mind and ensuring that what you take in is beneficial for your development. Looks are important when embodying the hot girl persona, but you also need the intelligence and smarts to match. You should be the girl who surpasses her classmates and receives the highest score on tests. You need to be the one who consistently earns promotions due to your dedication and discipline at work. You should be the girl rich in knowledge, able to engage in conversations that span from her favorite gourmet meals to her least favorite artists. Aim to be multi-dimensional and always strive to be a beauty with brains.
