princess ♛

I didn’t read her article (though I would have loved to!), but I can express a few opinions of my own. :D

Old style circles (or “gal cir”) were seen as “shocking” and “abnormal”, especially in the 90s during the height of Angeleek and Bunny Girl. You can see a lot of TV and news hosts going up to them and teasing the gals, treating them like animals, and mocking them. Sure, they interviewed them and the gals were able to talk about themselves, but the interviewers would often say things like “Okay folks! Invite them to a carnival!” or, one I can quote word-for-word, “God, look at these morons. One is putting on makeup and the other is sleeping. They’re probably talking about the dumbest shit in the world.” Another even approached and announced “They really exist!” like they were wild animals. Regardless of if they were joking or not, the jokes were at the gal’s expense.

They were seen as taboo back then, and even though they are still sort of taboo now, it’s different because people are a bit more accepting, and the gals usually aren’t as extreme looking as they used to be. Gals back then would go shopping together and eat food, but mostly, they would sit on the busy sidewalks on blankets/picnic tarps and just do their makeup and chat. Smaller groups would just hang out, but larger groups would get together in meeting rooms and even dance in public areas together.

Nowadays, gals mostly get together to take photos and hang out. They don’t really sit in the streets anymore, and while they do dance, it’s not often public like it used to be. They go to clubs together and will often drink with one another. They’ll even go to the beach with each other when the weather is nice, or go to Halloween parties in crazy makeup. Another niche thing that cirs do is give each other collages of photos they’ve taken for one of the gal’s birthdays, it being overly decorated and pretty looking. The new cirs aren’t as “intrusive” as the old cirs were. Sure, people will still look at them funny, but sometimes, regular folks will join in and even compliment them. They’re still seen as “taboo”, but it’s an experience for regular people and tourists now, rather than something to avoid.

Overseas, some gal cirs will just hang out together and go shopping, or do “Asian things” like going to ramen houses and eating together. A lot of overseas gals will go drinking together as well. Overseas cirs even participate in copying the Japanese cirs with the giving of birthday collages. I notice a lot of them try to do things in a similar way to the Japanese gals, which I respect. Some cirs even try to recreate the old-school style of things and still wear extreme makeup and sit in public areas on blankets. So yes, I’d say “old style” is still realistic, but I don’t feel it has the same weight it used to carry in the 90s and early 00s.

Her death made the rest of my day feel so gloomy, she was such a funny and inspirational gyaru who I've always looked up to. I hope she had a peaceful passing and afterlife, she will be missed dearly by the whole of the gyaru community.

I love the gyarusa so much and it would be amazing to see it grow!!