Becoming the It Girl: The Psychology & Impact of Wonyoungism (Ft. Yeshia)
- seon reverie
- Jun 19
- 7 min read
Written by Seon Reverie Girls:
Editor-in-Chief: Liz
Seon Muse / Co-writer: Yeshia - (@wonwonydoll) on Tiktok
These days, many girls aspire to become the best versions of themselves - not out of vanity, but out of a silent yearning for alignment, confidence, and self-respect. In this revolution of self-care and inner glow, shared by girls internationally, a new kind of role model has emerged: Jang Wonyoung.
Elegant yet youthful (They like to say she won and she's young), gentle yet focused, Wonyoung has become a cultural mirror for what many girls secretly hope to embody. From her rise as a teen trainee to global k-pop icon, she's sparked more than just fan admiration. She inspired a lifestyle. A mindset. A movement.
They call it Wonyoungism.
Who Is Jang Wonyoung?
I remember sitting in my room, watching the South Korean survival show Produce 48 , and my eyes were so captivated by one participant. She was tall, super pretty, bubbly, and an all rounder. She was Wonyoung! She competed as a trainee under Starship Entertainment. Only thirteen at the time, she stunned audiences with her poise and visuals, eventually finishing 1st place and debuting as the center of the project group IZ*ONE.
Her soft features paired with a graceful 169cm frame earned her the nickname "Giant Baby" , a phrase that captured the dreamy duality she became known for: youth and elegance, innocence and maturity. Now a member of the globally successful girl group IVE, Wonyoung has matured into a symbol of composure, charm, and contemporary femininity.
Wonyoung’s impact ripples far beyond music stages. She’s not just an idol, she’s an aesthetic archetype. Her presence has elevated brands into Gen Z obsessions, driving waves of consumer behavior that blend beauty, identity, and aspiration.
As the face of Innisfree, her dewy, doll-like look helped catapult the brand into global Gen Z relevance, skincare sales surged worldwide as girls sought out that “Wonyoung glow.” But the effect didn’t stop there.
Miu Miu saw a boom in relevance among teens and twenty-somethings, with Wonyoung’s delicate, preppy stylings bringing back ballet-core, bows, and femininity with structure.
Hapa Kristin, known for natural-looking contact lenses, became a viral go-to as fans emulated her doe-eyed charm.
AMUSE, a Korean makeup brand known for soft tints and sheer, glassy textures, gained cult status for embodying her minimal yet flawless aesthetic.
What is Wonyoungism?
Her signature phrase, “I don’t care, you are you, I am me,” from her appearance on Lee Youngji’s Nothing Much YouTube series, resonated deeply, sparking countless reflections and becoming a mantra many girls now live by.
Though she never coined the term herself, Wonyoungism is the online lifestyle aesthetic born from her influence. It combines soft visual beauty with inner growth — skincare, posture, studying, mindset, and elegance as a daily ritual. However, if you look closely, it's not an exact copy of Wonyoung's every day routine, being followed religiously by ambitious girls. Some aspects of her routine may be incorporated but overall it is just tailored to be the perfect routine (that includes room for individually) for self-improvement to become a version of themselves that reflects the way Wonyoung presents herself and her mindset. It’s not about becoming Wonyoung. It’s about building a version of yourself that feels intentional, radiant, and whole, inspired by the energy she radiates.
Think: dewy skincare, good posture, soft glam, studying with intention, glowing from within
The Psychology: Why Girls Love It
Wonyoungism taps into something much deeper than pretty hair ribbons or soft blush. It gives young women permission to care — about their appearance, their ambition, their peace. In a world that often pressures girls to shrink themselves or feel guilty for self-focus, wonyoungism reframes self-discipline as elegance, and self-worth as beauty. In fact, I think it reveals a harsh but important truth: Taking care of BOTH internal and external factors of yourself play a big role in your life's trajectory, from self confidence to socially. Instead of framing beauty focus into a toxic mindset that restricts girls from embracing themselves, it shows that all of us can feel pretty and feel empowered by taking care of ourselves, which in turn makes us radiate even more.
It also speaks to the inner child, the part of us who longed to be the main character, to be seen, to be admired without apology.
More Psychology: Why It Actually Works #LuckyVicky
Psychologically, Wonyoungism is rooted in embodiment, a concept in cognitive psychology where we "become" a feeling through physical cues and daily rituals. When a girl wakes up early, drinks water with lemon, applies a glowing cream blush, and straightens her posture, she's not just playing dress-up. She is building a sense of identity. Repeated routines signal to the brain: I am someone who is worth caring for.
Even more, it creates cognitive consistency, where actions and beliefs begin to align. The more you act like someone who is confident, the more likely you are to believe you are confident. It's like the iconic phrase, "You are what you think."
It becomes a loop of self-affirmation. In this way, Wonyoungism isn't just a trend. It is a self-concept in motion.
Introducing Our Seon Muse: Yeshia (@wonwonydoll)
on reclaiming Wonyoungism with softness, sincerity, and strength
To bring this Wonyoungism blog to life, I've invited someone who embodies its spirit with honesty and soft glam. With over 100k followers on Tiktok and 3.2M likes, Yeshia has dedicated herself to Wonyoungism and became a strong voice for the community, using her platform to uplift and inspire through product reviews, mini vlogs, and other tidbits of her Wonyoungism journey.
In her own words, here is Yeshia's journey with Wonyoungism:
Hello from Yeshia — A Wonyoungism Influencer
Hello! I am Yeshia, a wonyoungism influencer based in the Philippines! You can find my account (@wonwonydoll) on TikTok. I’ve been part of the wonyoungism community since 2023 and have witnessed its rising popularity in the “self care” space. Many people, especially girls, have been trying it out as a way to become the best version of themselves.
How I Discovered Wonyoungism
I discovered wonyoungism while scrolling through my TikTok For You page, where I came across a video introducing the concept. I was interested and researched it more. It’s about loving yourself, having a better mindset, and taking care of your skin, hair, body, etc., but with a twist — it’s inspired by Jang Wonyoung, which DIVE and K-pop fans would love and feel motivated by. I was motivated too because I am a DIVE and Wonyoung is my bias.
So I created my TikTok account to promote wonyoungism because I want to help people feel good about themselves. Throughout my wonyoungism journey, I loved it as I started feeling better about myself and saw my life improve.
Challenges Within the Community
As wonyoungism grew more popular, some people in the community started promoting eating disorders and racism. Wonyoungism had a downfall when some people trying it out got sick and hospitalized because they were practicing the “wrong” wonyoungism. There was also racism towards Latina makeup — many glazed over Korean makeup styles so much that they threw hate against Latina makeup, calling it “different from the others.”
These issues made me want to quit the community, but I knew I could make a change. I decided to continue and promote healthy wonyoungism through my page, to help people — especially girls who want to become the best version of themselves in a healthier way.
My Personal Glow-Up - "I'm that, I'm that girl"
When I practiced wonyoungism, I saw many changes in myself. My mindset improved, my studies got better, I felt comfortable in my own skin, and I became prettier and glowed up because of the confidence wonyoungism gave me.
Before, I used to be depressed and insecure — I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin, I wasn’t content with myself, and I questioned my worth and maybe my whole self. After wonyoungism, I started receiving many compliments, my grades improved, and all aspects of myself got better.
Now, my friends, people I know, some schoolmates, and others call me an “It Girl” and say they want to be like me.
Advice from Yeshia
For my girlies out there, the best advice I got from wonyoungism is to really invest in yourself — invest in good skincare, clothes, haircare, perfume, and jewelry. If you worry about money, you can still invest on a budget. As a student myself, I practiced wonyoungism on a budget.
Watch creators like Thewizardliz, Persephonesmind, Tam Kaur, etc., on YouTube — you’ll learn a lot, your mindset will improve, and your confidence will build. Always focus on your studies. Take Jang Wonyoung as inspiration; she was considered very smart at her school back then. Also, find examples in movie characters like Blair Waldorf and Rory Gilmore who show good examples of being students.
I promise you, you will feel good about yourself and become the best version of yourself.
And this was my wonyoungism journey! I am thankful I found out about wonyoungism — it really had an impact on my life.
Best,Yeshia
Conclusion
Our Seon Muse, Yeshia, reminds us that true glow-ups come from within, from healing, intention, and embracing our own unique paths. Wonyoungism is more than a trend or a set of strict routines; it's a call to honor ourselves with kindness, discipline, and grace.
As you move forward on your own journey to becoming your “It Girl,” remember: the most powerful transformation is the one that reflects you — soft, strong, and unapologetically whole.
Here at Seon Reverie, we celebrate those quiet revolutions of the self. May Yeshia’s journey inspire you to find your own thread of light and follow it with courage.
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