Confessions

People On TikTok Are Showing Off How They’ve “Glown-Up” After Leaving Conservative Households

The latest trend on TikTok? Showing off your glow-ups—after leaving your conservative town.

It’s heartwarming to see folks embrace their new identities and looks and find confidence in their self-expression—something 24-year-old teacher Jay Burleigh says she was not able to do until she left her hometown. 

Burleigh, who is from Louisiana, said she grew up in a small, conservative, and Catholic town where being her authentic self never felt okay. 

“I knew that I had a lot of beliefs that were outside of the social norms of my town for my whole life, but always stayed very quiet about them from fear of being judged or shunned more than I already felt I was,” Jay told BuzzFeed.

When Jay left to go to college, she began to feel more at peace with her identity. “I was finally able to open up to these liberal thoughts and beliefs and really explore my sexuality,” she said.

 

“I was finally able to develop and educate myself on what I believe to be just and what I believe to be unjust.”

On Tik Tok, Jay showed her evolution from someone who felt uncomfortable in her own skin to someone who is an empowered and confident person.

@jaybaebae96

If you’re from hs and seeing this, yes I know I wasn’t cool but I’m on ~top~ now. #iykyk #gaytiktok #lesbian #lesbiantiktok #lgbt #lgbtq #fyp #glowup

♬ growing up conservative glo up – cherryemojigirl 🍒

And it gets better! Jay’s TikTok inspired others to make their own glow-up videos showing how they have grown and changed since leaving their conservative towns. Like @cherrymojigirl…

cherrymojigirl
cherrymojigirl
cherrymojigirl
cherrymojigirl

 

And @masondenver

masondenver
@masondenverr

I’ve never felt so seen by an audio before.

♬ growing up conservative glo up – cherryemojigirl 🍒

And @myakatee

https://www.tiktok.com/@myakatee/video/6861727356684389637

Self-acceptance looks great on everybody!

And @moodie.maggie

@moodie.maggie

had to hop on this trend 👀 #fyp #alt

♬ growing up conservative glo up – cherryemojigirl 🍒

And @capitanofthecows

@captainofthecows

i had to google how to use tik tok to make this but this has me DYING. how do i find #trans tik tok 👁👄👁

♬ growing up conservative glo up – cherryemojigirl 🍒

More from TikTok:

Patricia Grisafi

Patricia Grisafi, PhD, is a freelance writer and educator. Her work has appeared in Salon, Vice, Bitch, Bustle, Broadly, The Establishment, and elsewhere. She is passionate about pit bull rescue, cursed objects, and designer sunglasses.