Welcome back to the IR playbook. Today we'll be continuing our series I girl lessons from it girls where we explore the allure of some of our favorite iconic it girls and see what it is that makes everyone so obsessed with them. By better understanding what makes them so magnetic, we can be inspired to adopt some of their most attractive qualities and values into our lives so that we can level up as well. In today's lesson, we'll be learning from the romance queen herself, Lana Del Rey, and explore the art of romanticizing life and owning your aesthetics. Lana Del Rey doesn't just make music. She created an entire world. From her vintage Hollywood visuals to her cinematic sounds, she has built an aesthetic so immersive that people don't just listen to her songs, they live in them. And that's why Lana doesn't just attract casual listeners, but people who ultimately become devoted fans. Listening to Lana feels like you're driving along the Pacific Coast Highway in slow motion when in your hair caught in some magic yet beautiful love story. She paints the kind of world where even the sad moments feel bittersweet and somewhat poetic. Like you're sad, but it's an aesthetic. Even if you aren't a fan of the genre of music, you can't help but still appreciate the form of art that she has created and you can't deny the power of the atmosphere she creates. And in a world that does get noisy at times, atmosphere can speak louder than sound. Lana isn't just an artist. She's an aesthetic, a feeling, a world that you can step into. While most musicians create music, Lana isn't just selling music. She was selling an entire experience. and that experience became a movement. One of the biggest things Lana teaches us is that it's okay to actually feel things. When it feels like everyone around you is telling you to remain unbothered, that emotions make you weak, and to remain emotionless, this can hold a lot of value. She made heartbreak, loneliness, and nostalgia feel kind of beautiful, and that's something that we can all learn from. You don't have to rush to quote unquote get over it or act like everything's fine. Sometimes the most powerful thing that you can do is just sit with your feelings rather than rush past them. By romanticizing life, even the sad parts, we're reminded that our emotions don't make us weak, they make us real. And when you embrace them, they can actually become a part of your aesthetics and a part of who you are and who you are becoming. Lana turned her sadness and her longing into a whole vibe and people felt that. Lana's influence proves that the most powerful form of influence is not always about what you say, it's about what you make people feel. Whether it's art, business, relationship, or your personal branding, if you can create a world that people want to step into, you don't just capture their attention, you capture their heart, and that makes you unforgettable. Although we all recognize her influence now, when Lana first entered the mainstream, she wasn't exactly met with open arms. People didn't really know what to do with her. There were people who were confused. The internet was dragging her, and a lot of people thought her whole sad girl Americana vibe was a little bit too manufactured, a little bit too melancholic, and just overall too much. Her SNL performance was ripped apart. People didn't understand the way that she moved. They didn't understand the way that she sang or the way that she presented herself. But Lana didn't shift to seek validation. She didn't chase acceptance. Instead of changing to fit the mainstream, she doubled down on her artistic vision. She doubled down on her aesthetics, embracing the tragic cinematic beauty that made her unique. She stayed in her world and eventually the world came around to her. The very thing she was mocked for, the melancholic, hyperromanticized aesthetic, her moody storytelling, slow and sultry vocals and vintage glamour became her signature and made her a cultural icon. For example, the song Don't Call Me Angel was a collab between three major artists, but you know exactly when Lana's verse starts and when it ends. Her essence is that distinct. Lana's journey proves that real power comes from owning what makes you different, even when people don't get it at first. The world loves to label and criticize, but those who stay true to themselves often set the trends that others eventually follow. Instead of diluting yourself to fit in, amplify what makes you stand out, you might just turn your uniqueness into a movement like Lana. When you fully own your identity, especially the parts that people don't understand, you stop chasing approval and you start building your impact. Criticism only has power if you believe it. Yes, being able to hear constructive criticism. And being able to embrace change when needed is important and holds a lot of value. But if you know who you are and you know what you're about, there's also a ton of value in sticking with it. The world will catch up. And if they don't, that's fine, too. the right people will. Just like it did for Lana, who built a cult following of people who felt seen in the world that she created. Through all the criticism, the scrutiny, and the noise, Lana never hardened. She didn't fight back with rage or try to prove herself by being louder. She stayed soft, still dreamy, and somehow that made her even more influential. Lana is the blueprint for soft feminine energy, and she made it powerful. She wasn't loud or aggressive. She didn't try to compete. She just existed in her own world. And somehow that made everyone pay attention. Sometimes we feel this pressure to be bold, to boss up, super confident, to be unbothered, and to always be clapping back. And while that energy has its place, Lana shows us that softness can be just as magnetic and that you don't have to perform power to have it. Her voice is soft. Her style is feminine. Her energy is quiet. But none of that made her any less impactful. If anything, that's what made her stand out. Softness doesn't mean weakness. It can actually be alluring, disarming. It draws people in without trying. It's mysterious. It's emotional. And if it's authentic, it's real. Which really highlights the fact that you don't have to be loud to be strong. You don't have to be hard to be respected. Your softness is not something to get rid of. It's something that you can actually lean into. Lana's story isn't just about her success in music, but rather a commitment to herself and to a vision. She was able to create a world so personal yet so universal that people can't help but be drawn into. Her journey is a testament to the fact that when you fully own your aesthetics, your mood, and your perspective. When you refuse to water yourself down for the sake of mainstream appeal or societal approval, you don't just attract an audience. You create a cult following of people who genuinely support you and believe in you. That's it for today. I hope that this episode encourages you to stop trying to fit into spaces that don't understand you. If you keep doing your thing, focusing on bettering yourself and progressing your own story, the world will catch up just like it did for Lana Del Rey. I'm curious to hear what your aesthetics is if you'd like to share in the comments. Otherwise, thank you so so much for tuning in. I hope to see you in the next one. And in the meantime, as always, stay hot. Bye.