Why Gen Z is Obsessed with Devon Lee Carlson and Others

I am totally Gen Z. I am 19-years old, living with my boyfriend, addicted to nicotine, and posting on Tik Tok everyday. If that doesn’t scream Gen Z I don’t really know what does. But there is something special about us, I think at least. We have this weird obsession with a different kind of influencers than most generations. They aren’t that perfect, they show their messy and authentic self, it’s more real. They also prioritize their health more than the early 2000’s girls ever did. We see these girls running, vlogging pilates, and eating clean. These girls are effortlessly cool, and have this type of vibe that makes us, or at least me, feel like it’s attainable, but not to the point that makes it look like my life. Does that make sense? The girls I am talking about here are Devon Lee Carlson, Emma Chamberlain, and Paloma Elsesser. These three women embody a chic and mysterious vibe that makes most of us obsess over the next time they’re going to post. I am going to go into depth about why each girl brings different things to the table and what it is.

The Devon Lee Carlson. The ultimate cool girl. The successful business woman we all know and love. She is the co-founder of Wildflower Cases and her Insta feed has always been this aesthetic dream. Honestly she has been my style influencer since I saw the phone case with eyes on it. I feel like we all know which one I’m talking about. She blends this cool Y2K vibe while maintaining a modern and sleek look. It needs to be applauded. I’ve seen her layering a baby tee over a slip dress and post a photo dump with photos that don’t make any sense, but I’m into it. Every one of her outfits look like this happy accident, I want to be inside of her closet at all times. Despite her unique and captivating style, she also has this total persona to her. It is exactly what all of us want to come across as. Playful and true to ourselves. I really do believe that we all look our bests when we dress and act like our authentic selves. That is the key to being effortlessly cool, confidence in your own personality. She will be posting some crazy story on Instagram from Paris, then post some iconic blog about how she got there. She has a chaotic, yet chic look to her that makes her your online best friend, rather than some stranger, or celebrity like Paris Hilton. Not that we don’t all love Paris.

Emma Chamberlain. That girl we watched on Youtube for years. The blueprint for “I am way too cool to give a fuck about what anyone is thinking about me.” In a less cocky way. We all know she started off as some vlogger, and whether she had a love for fashion from the beginning, or it grew along the way, we saw her unleash this new side of her that combines high fashion without making it look unrealistic. I will saw I think within the year 2023 to some of 2024, I wasn’t the biggest fan. It all felt unrealistic, until I saw a recent video of hers, and I was hooked again. But that’s normal, going through different phases and relating to different things. Anyways, Gen Z struggles to get away from her, not like they want to. Emma has always been raw and a relatable presence for all of us. That is what was different than most creators at the time. She has completely built her own aesthetic. She didn’t have to work around one, or mold to one either, she created one. And I love it. She’ll pop out in low-rise pants and over sized blazers. Drink a million coffees in a day, and then make her own coffee shop. Brands collaborate with her for more than just her following. They collaborate with her for how influential she is to many young women and what she represents. We all know if Emma can stand by it, most of us can too.

Alrighty, Paloma Elsesser. The model and movement. She is a plus-size woman in an industry that has been known to ignore body diversity. She has changed the face of high fashion, and has never questioned her confidence. Or at least just doesn’t seem like she does. She has made the fashion world adapt to her, instead of the normal being the other way around. Her style seems to have always been bold and unapologetic. She has been known to wear whatever she wants and has only inspired me to be whoever I feel is suit. Many of us in Gen Z are pushing for inclusivity, and she is the epitome of it. Everything she does seems so natural, effortless, and confident. Personally, she has helped me feel like anything I want to do, is possible, Because if you are walking into an industry that is known for pushing people like you away, and you make them mold to what you want, you are the model figure we need to be talked about.

So, what did we learn here today, class? Just kidding, but seriously, what do all of these amazing women have in common? They are not aiming for perfection, they just want a good life. A life that makes them happy. And maybe date a couple of hotties along the way. Tucker… Anyways, these ladies are the mold, they are not the ones molding. They have shifted my perspective, and for the better. I have never been more confident to be exactly who I want to be. You should feel the same.