Charli XCX may have popularized the "brat" persona, but this rebellious lifestyle has deep historical roots.
Brat girls play hard and write their own rules. Unbothered by convention, they embrace their authentic selves and don't mind a little drama. Singer-songwriter Charli XCX popularized the term with her 2024 album "Brat," and Kamala Harris has embraced the label, but the lifestyle brat girls represent is far from new.
Historically, women who embodied boldness, independence, and unapologetic self-expression faced admiration and criticism. Today, brat girls enjoy freedoms their predecessors could only dream of, yet they still navigate a landscape where their boldness can be both celebrated and weaponized. Here's what you need to know about the evolution of brat girls and their enduring impact.
Cleopatra's love life became political
Cleopatra VII, Egypt's last pharaoh, is arguably one of history's most propagandized women. As Rome warred and expanded, she sought to protect her kingdom. And so she allied herself, politically and romantically, with two influential Romans: first with Julius Caesar and then with Mark Antony. (more in the article)