By Elyse Hychong, Banner Staff

Charli XCX’s album brat, released on June 7, 2024, sparked a viral Internet trend and cultural phenomenon this past summer. The “brat” trend has encompassed dances, lime green, and even American politics–but what exactly is “brat”?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the term “brat” as “an ill-mannered annoying child.” Interestingly, the etymology behind the word echoes these negative connotations; “brat” stems from the Old French word brachet, meaning “b—h.” Thus, being a brat means that someone is misbehaving, obnoxious, and childish.

However, Charli XCX’s album reclaimed the word “brat” by redefining it as being unapologetically yourself. In an interview, Charli XCX explained, “You’re that girl who is a bit messy and loves to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes. She’s honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile. That’s brat.” This emphasis on imperfection empowers listeners to embrace every aspect of themselves, even parts that are traditionally seen as negative.

Charli XCX: Photo from Wikipedia

Angie Fang ’26 commented, “Brat’s just, for lack of a better word, cool. It’s about how it’s cool to do what people don’t want you to do; how it’s cool to break societal expectations and stereotypes; it’s about saying ‘it’s brat’ and then doing whatever you want.” While the original meaning of the word “brat” suggests that not being well-behaved makes someone selfish and annoying, Charli XCX’s “brat” expresses that not conforming to societal expectations makes someone “cool.”

Another notable aspect of “brat” is its influence on politics. Soon after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed his vice president Kamala Harris, Charli XCX posted “kamala IS brat” on X. Shortly after, the Harris campaign page on X renamed the profile Kamala HQ and changed the account picture to “kamala hq” in the style of the brat album cover. While the results of the election remain to be seen, Charli XCX’s tweet has certainly helped Harris appeal to the youth vote.

Overall, “brat” has defined the summer as a time for self-expression and nonconformity to societal expectations. But since leaves are falling and autumn is in full swing, there is one question that remains:  is “brat” over? Summer Gu ’28 remarked, “I don’t think ‘brat’ will continue throughout the fall… a lot of the popularity of the album came from the term ‘brat summer’ and the summer-themed color, and I don’t think it’ll be as popular without that seasonal aspect.” So, what will replace “brat” summer? Demure Autumn? I-just-wanna-be-part-of-your-symphony Fall? Something new? Whatever the answer, we can maintain the “brat” mindset yearlong by defying societal expectations, embracing our messier and more chaotic side, and being unapologetically ourselves. ☐