Being Single is Officially in Style
Photo by Mōhai Peloso
The Boyfriend is Out: Vogue Declares Singledom the New Chic
A new British Vogue essay says being single is officially in style, and students seem to agree. When British Vogue published its recent essay titled: “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?”, it sparked immediate conversation across social media, and college campuses were no exception. Written by journalist Chanté Joseph, the piece argues that being in a relationship, once considered the ultimate marker of success, has lost its cultural cool factor.
“Being partnered does not affirm your womanhood anymore,” Joseph writes. “It is no longer considered an achievement.” Instead, independence, and even intentional solitude has become aspirational.
In recent years, the online language of love has shifted. Social media feeds that once overflowed with “boyfriend reveal” posts and anniversary slideshows are now filled with “soft life” aesthetics, solo vacations, and self-care rituals. On TikTok, hashtags like #singleera and #maincharacterenergy celebrate the freedom of focusing on yourself. According to Vogue, this new mindset signals a deeper cultural change, one that values personal growth over partnership.
At the University of the Pacific, this “boyfriend backlash” feels familiar. Between classes, internships, and student jobs, many students describe relationships as something that can feel like extra credit rather than a necessity.
“I think people just have different priorities now,” says a senior communications major. “Everyone is more focused on themselves, their goals, and what makes them happy instead of proving they are in a relationship.”
“It is not that people do not want love,” says a psychology student. “It is just not a status symbol anymore.”
Students also point to social media’s influence. Constantly documenting your relationship online can make something intimate feel performative, a theme Joseph explores in her article. As she writes, “We’ve reached a point where showing off your relationship feels outdated, even cringe.”
Joseph’s essay also reflects a generational mindset shift. For Gen Z, being single is not necessarily anti-romance, it is about self-definition. Vogue describes this as “a rebranding of womanhood,” where value is not tied to relationship status.
Many students see this as empowering rather than cynical. “It is not about being anti-boyfriend,” says a sophomore marketing student . “It is more like realizing you are complete either way.”
That sentiment has found its way into campus culture. From solo study sessions at the DeRosa Center to late-night group hangs that do not end with “Who is your boyfriend?”, individuality has become part of the lifestyle aesthetic.
Of course, that does not mean dating is over. It just looks different. Students describe relationships as more private, more balanced, and less about validation. “It is more low-key now,” says an anonymous student. “If you are dating someone, that is cool, but it is not your whole identity.”
As Vogue points out, the trend is not a rejection of love, it is a recalibration. For many young adults, especially women, the new definition of “cool” is confidence, self-sufficiency, and a sense of humor about it all. So while Vogue may have declared boyfriends “embarrassing,” the message underneath feels less harsh: In 2025, it is not about who you are with, it is about who you are.