Raise a Happy Girl
Why Girls See Themselves in KPop Demon Hunters
Singing to save the world from demonic forces? Not generally a normal after school activity. So why is it that millions of girls across the country are seeing themselves in Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—the singers from Huntr/x, aka the stars of Netflix’s runaway hit KPop Demon Hunters—who do exactly that? What is it about these magical-voiced anime characters that has girls proclaiming which character they “are,” watching the movie again and again, and listening to the soundtrack on repeat?
Turns out, there are a lot of real girl attributes baked into these other-worldly singers that have girls in every zip code shouting, “That’s me!”
Their friendships are everything
There’s nothing casual about the friendship between Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. These girls are bonded tight. From a perceived sore throat to fighting off dangerous demons, they always have each other’s backs. So when secrets come between them and, for the first time, they find themselves fighting each other instead of deadly demons, their world threatens to crumble before their very eyes. To the girls of KPop Demon Hunters and real girls today, their friendships are their world.
They can be cute and tough at the same time
From Rumi’s famous teddy bear and choo-choo train pajama pants to Zoey’s phone case with bunny ears, the girls of Huntr/x love all things adorable—but don’t think for a second that means they don’t have depth or can’t handle the real world. Behind the so-cute accessories are characters who have faced family abandonment, cultural identity issues, and more…plus, they’re actually saving the world from evil! Similarly, today’s real-life girls refuse to choose between having fun with stuffies, stickers, and sparkles and being serious about mental health, community safety, and global issues. They won’t be boxed in. Today’s girls contain multitudes.
They understand the need for rest
Self-care, touching grass, and recharging with their besties are big with this generation of girls, so it’s no surprise that the girls of KPop Demon Hunters are almost always in their jammies, dreaming of the spa, or just being cozy in general when they’re not performing or kicking demon derriere. For busy girls in today’s hectic world, Mira and Zoey’s “Couch! Couch! Couch!” chant could not be more relatable.
They want to be unapologetically themselves (even though it’s sometimes hard)
Authenticity is paramount for young people today. From wearing pimple patches in public to talking openly about mental health struggles, the message of “be yourself” has never been more prevalent. Still, as Rumi, the lead singer of Huntr/x knows all-too-well, it can be hard to embrace things about yourself that others might see as flaws. Showing Rumi’s struggle (and spoiler: how she overcomes it!) has likely helped countless girls feel seen by proving it’s often what makes us different that helps us shine the most.
