By Morgan Guerra

Celebrity culture is dominating young minds, and with it comes big fans’ odd habits: sleeping on sidewalks, anticipating new releases, buying merchandise as fast as possible, reselling, and unwavering outspoken support.

Women and men both are guilty parties of these major acts of love as fans. But there’s a big difference in the way they are viewed by the public when they do.

According to Merriam-Webster, a Hypebeast is a person devoted to acquiring fashionable items, especially clothing and shoes. A fangirl, on the other hand, is a girl or woman who is an extremely or overly enthusiastic fan of someone or something.

What separates “devoted” from “overly enthusiastic”? Quite frankly, it’s gender. 

“When girls know a lot about something they love, they’re crazy; when boys do, they’re passionate,” Says Alicia Lansom, a journalist with Refinery29.

The term Hypebeast was coined by Kevin Ma in 2005 as the name for his blog about shoes and fashion trends he was interested in. The term has grown beyond its humble beginnings and is now widely used to describe large groups of men who enjoy certain celebrities and music associated with trendy male fashion.

“Hypebeasts are not only interested in buying clothes and shoes; they also want to show them off to their peers and online communities,”  Says Firman Nofhananda, a journalist for Medium.com. “They also follow influencers or celebrities who are known for their Hypebeast style,”

During the Yeezy wave of 2015 having the overpriced slides and sneakers was a major status statement. If someone had the Travis Scott Air Jordan 4’s, it’s an “investment” that is currently listed for as much as $22,000, solely for being a collaboration with the popular rapper. 

“Plainly, art isn’t seen as viable until men-led audiences and media deem it so.” Says Lansom.

Some items are in such high demand before they’re released that these men take great lengths to own them, even spending money for the opportunity to purchase them. Shane Morton, a self-proclaimed ex-Hypebeast has seen some of this firsthand with friends with the same drive. 

“I know somebody who bought a bot system to sign up for a raffle to buy the Travis Scott shoes over 200 times, you have to pay for the bots,” Says Morton.

Beyond cool clothes, Hypebeast culture is getting to be a part of something greater than you, a love of an item, or influencing celebrity style being the thing that brings people together. 

“When I was super into Travis Scott it was honestly probably because of the energy, at one of his shows, everyone is excited, jumping around, the testosterone is pumping,” Says Morton.

When it comes to a certain energy joining mass amounts of people together for one purpose, fangirls have mastered this concept. At concerts and popup shops fans come together wearing themed outfits and swapping friendship bracelets with a palpable excitement and love for the artist.

She’s a Harry Styles devotee and has been in the fangirl game for years. Vanessa Caprio has gone to great lengths to support her favorite ex-boyband member in sequin-clad jumpsuits. She is flying across oceans and braving the outdoors in lines for hours just to express her love in person.

“It was 10 of us in this hotel room, all of which I met through Harry (Styles),” Says Caprio. “I feel like I’ve made these very big core memories for me with my friends because of him, I think in total I have gone to 25 shows and I wouldn’t look at it like I have felt unfulfilled,” says Caprio.

Being an “overly excited” fangirl has shaped many women into who they are today. Just as much as Hypebests find their identity in the celebrities and fashion they enjoy. 

“You’re always going to carry a piece of these things with you ’cause they are a part of who you are and a part of who your friends are,” Says Caprio.

So why has Fangirl’s love been villainized? In many cases articles and commentary on these passionate women contain words like “crazy” “stalker” and “overly-obsessed”. But Hypebeasts are put on a pedestal, considered “cool” by other young men and generally well-received by those who don’t partake in celebrity culture. 

“I definitely do think there is a hypocrisy,” Says Caprio. “The media looks at girls like they are crazier and I get it, but it’s not all that different from any other fan camping out”

Just because there isn’t the shiny stamp of approval from men, doesn’t make fangirl experiences less meaningful or important to those who partake.

“The treatment of women in fandom spaces holds a magnifying glass to the misogyny that women face in the wider world, ” Says Lansom. “This is perhaps what makes women-led fandoms so extraordinary, with fans standing together against hatred and vitriol in pursuit of a collective fulfillment.”