Elle Woods. Wednesday Adams. Devi Vishwakumar. Zoey Johnson. Girl Pow-R. The common thread between these names? #MainCharacterEnergy. Canadian band Girl Pow-R leads this social media trend from the realms of online apps and movies to music with their latest song So New. Let’s break it down.
What exactly is #MainCharacterEnergy?
Having main character energy means treating your life like a movie in which you’re the star. Popularized on TikTok, the trend embodies a state of mind about oneself and one’s values. Speaking to The New Yorker, TikTok creator Yasmine Sahid writes, “TikTok and social media has made it more attainable for you to write your own story. You can kind of cast yourself in these mini-movies.”
Being director, writer, and star sounds overwhelming at first – where do you even begin? Creator Nicole Victoria (@wellnessbynicolevictoria) suggests “finding beauty in the small things”, setting goals that will make you happy, and creating boundaries to help you achieve these goals.
#MainCharacterEnergy Puts You First
At the core of #MainCharacterEnergy is the recognition and embrace of self-worth. In their study on the main character trend, YPulse found that happiness and mental well-being are at the forefront:
“Almost half [of respondents] say that thinking of themselves as the main character has helped them to gain more confidence,
and nearly the same number say it has helped them to appreciate the things they have. Over a third say it has helped them to find a passion.”
Take those qualities, add a dance party tune, and mix in lyrics that you’ll be singing for days: you’ve got So New. Upholding their mission of empowering young girls across the globe, Girl Pow-R understands the value in a main character perspective. Ambition, appreciation, self-worth? Say less.
Girl Pow-R’s So New Brings #MainCharacterEnergy to 2023
Girl Pow-R’s So New champions the ambition and self-worth that are key to embodying #MainCharacterEnergy. Take the chorus, which invokes both the drive and courage to jump into the future, despite not knowing what’s in store: “It’s time to find out what’s next in life/No matter the path we’ll be alright.” Not only are the girls ready to take on an exciting future – they know they deserve it. They also take time to remember and appreciate the good things in life, most notably their friends: “Thanks to those I’ve met/I won’t forget your words”. The music amplifies this feeling, providing an 80s-inspired electro-pop beat that recalls the montages and finales of the decade’s best teen movies.
Inspiring Ambition and Self-Worth in Fans
With So New, Girl Pow-R is setting an example for their fans. Amidst the throes of growing up and finding your footing in the world, it’s vital to have figures to look up to – main characters, if you will.
Embodying this spirit, Girl Pow-R’s uplifting single encourages fans to take the next step (whatever that may be) and reminds us that we’re all on the journey together. Feeling strong in your self-worth and ambition is all you need to make that first move. You never know what lies on the other side of the hill. (It could be a Juno nomination!) What you can be certain of, as Girl Pow-R reminds us, is that no matter what happens, we’ll be alright.
Your #MainCharacterEnergy playlist is calling! Add So New by Girl Pow-R to your rotation on Spotify. Make sure to check out the lyric video on Youtube and subscribe to their channel.
Ready for more inspiring and uplifting music? Follow Girl Pow-R on social media!
GIRL POW-R
Youtube: @GirlPowR
TikTok: @girlpowrband
Instagram: @girl_pow_r