What is Brat Summer? Charli XCX trend adopted by Kamala Harris explained

Brat summer has taken over the internet, and now the vice president’s presidential campaign, but what is it?

The term a “brat summer” was inspired by British pop star Charli XCX’s latest album Brat, released on 7 June.

It’s release marked the singer’s breakthrough to the mainstream, and went on to become her highest charting album – amid critical acclaim.

From collaborating with reclusive singer Lorde on a remix of the song about their friendship – Girl, So Confusing – to the track Apple going viral with a TikTok dance.

Charli XCX: Brat has become a pop cultural phenomenon. Instagram/@charli_xcx

Brat has become a pop cultural phenomenon among Gen-Zers and millennials alike.

The album’s success has gone on to inspire the Brat summer movement which rejects social constructs and trends such as “clean girl aesthetic” and celebrates the unapologetic party gals.

Charli XCX explained the phenomenon in a video shared with her TikTok followers.

“You are just that girl who is a little messy and maybe says dumb things sometimes, who feels herself but then also maybe has a breakdown, but parties through it,” she said.

“It is honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile. That’s Brat. Think Courtney Love in the 90s, Amy Winehouse in the early aughts, and Ke$ha in the 2010s.”

Kamala Harris and Brat Summer explained

Vice President Kamala Harris has adopted the Brat aesthetic. Photo credit:White House/Erin Scott

Brat summer has inspired many people to embrace their inner Brat and bringing its girl energy into their daily lives, including none other than presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

After President Joe Biden announced he was ending his 2024 presidential campaign and later endorsed Vice President Harris to take his place as the democrat nominee, Charli XCX publicly endorsed her.

The Von Dutch singer posted on X, “Kamala IS brat”, which immediately went viral.

kamala IS brat
— Charli (@charli_xcx) July 22, 2024

From there came an onslaught of memes, fan edits and compilations using songs from Brat to celebrate the vice president’s most famous moments, that swarmed social media.

After the Biden HQ official campaign X account transformed into Kamala HQ, the campaign chose to capitalise on the viral tweet and adopt the Brat branding.

The account updated it’s cover photo to mimic the Brat album’s slime green shade “kamala hq” in the same black font.

Fans have quickly gotten behind the collaboration, with one writing: “Kamala Harris running for president in 2024 is so Brat summer and you can’t tell me otherwise”.