When you hear "hot girl summer," your mind probably jumps to yacht parties, rooftop clubs, and wild nights out. But let me let you in on a little secret, mine looked nothing like that.

There were no fancy vacations or romantic dates. Instead, my hot girl summer was quite, cozy, and soul nourishing. It was about solo café dates, cooking nights, film pictures, and little moments that made me fall in love with my own company.

Don't let other people's Instagram stories fool you. Not everyone can be on an island sipping on fancy drinks. Hot girl summer doesn't look the same for everyone, and that's the whole point.

Whether you're living it up at parties or staying in with your favourite candle lit, it's about doing what makes you feel alive.

So if you're ready to glow from the inside out, here's exactly how I romanticized my summer, and how you can too!

1. Take a Beach Trip (Even if It's Just For a Day)

One of the best things I did this summer was go on a beach trip. I didn't have any big plans. I carried a book, a fizzy drink with way too much ice, and found a quiet spot to sit.

Cool summer air, my feet in the sand, and for once, I had no guilt about doing absolutely nothing. No distractions, just the sound of waves and pages turning.

There's something truly magical about watching the sun dip into the ocean, the sky turning shades of orange and pink, while the sea breeze wraps around you like a soft hug (This is coming from a mountain person by the way!)

It wasn't about anyone watching. It was about me being present, soaking in the sun, and choosing to romanticise this little moment, that I'm sure I will look back at. A day at the beach might not look "hot girl" on paper, but trust me it refilled my soul in ways no club ever could.

Picture Credit: Anwesha Paul Chowdhury

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2. Solo Cafe Dates are Main Character Energy

Some days, the most romantic thing you can do is take yourself out, with a notebook and a question.

I walked into a café wearing an outfit that made me feel like I could be in an early 2000s New York montage, ordered my coffee, and pulled out a notebook.

Then I asked myself the most Carrie Bradshaw question of all: What do I want? And I actually answered it. Page after page of messy thoughts and half formed dreams.

It wasn't deep or perfect, it was real. If you've never taken yourself out on a solo café date, let this be your sign. Bring a pen, wear something that makes you feel good, and write about it.

Picture Credit: Anwesha Paul Chowdhury

3. The Art of a Homemade Dinner

You can't order food online every night, sometimes you just gotta cook. So I did. One evening this summer I stayed in and made myself a bowl of ramen.

I made it with whatever was available at home, nothing fancy, played a playlist that I could sing along to while cutting vegetables, and let me tell you, it's oddly comforting.

I lit a candle and sat down with my warm bowl of ramen. I enjoyed it while watching Modern Family, my favourite show.

Picture Credit: Anwesha Paul Chowdhury

Turns out, the most underrated part of a hot girl summer is learning how to enjoy your own company.

Picture Credit: Anwesha Paul Chowdhury

4. Get yourself a Film Camera

Something shifts when you stop trying to make moments perfect and start appreciating them as they are. You begin to notice softness in chaos, beauty in blur, and meaning in the in between.

I got myself a film camera and started clicking pictures of anything and everything. Not for Instagram, not for the likes, just for me. Suddenly, evrything felt worth capturing. A half eaten fruit, sunlight through a curtain, a breakfast tray.

Looking back at the photos now, they aren't polished, the blur, the grain, it made the pictures look more alive but still nostalgic. They felt like summer.

What I learnt is that, life doesn't have to be picture perfect to be worth remembering, ordinary pictures like these are worth holding onto.

Picture Credit: Anwesha Paul Chowdhury

5. Have a Movie Night with your Mom

Last weekend, my mom and I put on Mamma Mia (2008), and honestly, it was the best kind of unplanned evening.

We didn't dress up or make a big deal out of it, just comfy pyjamas, microwave popcorn, and two hours of entertainment curled up on the couch.

It felt easy and warm, we laughed at scenes, paused at certain moments, made side comments, and sang along to Dancing Queen (off-key). Hot girl summer is also about making time for the people who feel like home.

And honestly? Nothing feels as good as laughing and spending time with someone who's known you since the beginning.

Your Hot Girl Era Starts Here

Let's be real, we can't feel like the main character everyday, and that's okay. You don't need to change overnight. I didn't wake up one day suddenly loving my own company, it's something I eased into, one small moment at a time.

Being a "hot girl" isn't about how loud your life is, it's about how good it feels to live it. It's about being present and being completely unapologetic about romanticising the little things.

I know for some people summer is about big plans, crowded rooms, dancing with friends untill sunrise, or even a big family holiday, and that's valid too. But if that's not you or "your thing", know that you're not missing out.

Choose yourself, over and over, in every way, this summer and everyday.