The blogging platform Tumblr had an indelible impact on the culture of the 2010s: Teens in chokers, Dr. Martens boots, the 1975’s “Chocolate.” Many of the bands and beauty trends once prolific on the platform have faded with time. Few Tumblr staples formed early adolescent female brains like the close-up images of eyes, landscapes, and friends in faraway places emblazoned with white serif mantras like “coffee on chilly fall days” or “finding a new song you like and forever listening to it on repeat” from Justgirlythings.
What started as a blog intended to be relatable to similarly aged girls, quickly became a phenomenon. Though the platform’s popularity dwindled, the text-over-image format continued to shape the way girls of the internet post and portray their lives as they grew from teens into adults and left Tumblr behind for Instagram. Justgirlythings remained anonymous, until the account’s creator, Becky Campos, revealed herself via Instagram Reel this year. In her viral video, she has her wife react to her old posts. After all, what is lesbianism if not the ultimate Girly Thing?
We hopped on the phone to talk about Becky Campos’ internet origins and her favorite Girly Things in 2026.
FLORA MEDINA: How did you end up on Tumblr?
BECKY CAMPOS: I started on MySpace, mine was called Totally Hot Layouts. I had a layout site and taught myself HTML. When that died down, my friend was like, “Have you ever heard of Tumblr?” I had no clue what it was, but I signed up that day. I had my main account, where I was just reblogging relatable stuff. I also had Little Reasons to Smile. Then I taught myself Photoshop, which was when I created Justgirlythings.
When you look back at Justgirlythings, what personal changes are you able to see through the posts?
I’m gay, but I was posting a lot of straight stuff, and I took a lot of requests. So a lot of the posts weren’t things I actually enjoyed. There’s plenty of things I did enjoy at the time too, like reading. Not everything on there is something I would have agreed with or related to myself, but I was just trying to be relatable to people who were following me.
Did you realize you were gay while running the account?
I knew I was gay around 2012/2013. I started to make posts where I would post a straight couple, but make it more queer. I didn’t come out until 2014 but I think a lot of people probably caught on… I was being inclusive, but also, I knew. There were definitely signs.
What was your gay awakening?
Hillary Duff. Also when Britney and Madonna kissed on MTV.
What prompted you to reveal yourself 15 years after starting the account?
I’m just more comfortable in myself now. Growing up, I was kind of embarrassed of the blog because there were people that loved it, but also a lot of people who hated it. Over the years I became more proud of what I created and the community I have. Yeah, I made a blog that might have been a little embarrassing, but it got a lot of people through their days and people felt like they could relate to it. I look back now and I’m like, “It is what it is, and I’m proud of it.”
What has it been like to watch the response as you’ve resurfaced with it?
It’s been so many years since I created it. I’m almost 30 now, I’ve had Justgirlythings for half of my life, which is kind of crazy. I honestly thought people forgot about it, so I was shocked when everyone was in the comments saying they remembered it. It’s pretty cool that people remember it after all this time.
You made us some updated Justgirlythings posts for this interview, what was your inspiration for the new posts?
Basically just showing people that I’m queer. The first one was, “The feeling of finally getting married to your favorite person.” I feel like I had posted a lot of stuff when I was younger about hoping to marry someone and be happy one day, so it’s kind of cool that we’re all grown up now. I pretty much just wanted to show me and my wife. Growing up, I also posted a lot about wanting to travel, and wanting to go to New York City, or live in a big city. It’s cool that now I’ve traveled to a lot of the places I used to post about when I was 15. I also did “Realizing you’re capable of accomplishing hard things,” because I’m a runner, and I’m really proud of that. The last one was “Living a beautiful life with the person you love by your side.” That was also just to show me and my wife, Chelsea. I’m not that shy girl that hides behind my computer screen anymore. I’m just not scared anymore.
What would your 15-year-old self think of your life now?
I would be so shocked. I had no clue I’d live out West, or do any of the things that I do. I’m so proud of my hobbies and my life. I have my little family with my two dogs, my wife, and my bearded dragon. I manifested my life through the posts. I think I’d be really proud of how far I’ve come.
You did really manifest a lot of your current life through Justgirlythings, what are some things you’re manifesting now?
I’m currently working on a business, I’m starting an outdoorsy clothing brand. I want to do a Justgirlythings line for it too. Also creating content, I’ve been having so much fun doing that, so I’d love to work with brands. I’m looking into getting a trailer and traveling more across the country, outside of it. It’s just so fun to see new places. I’d love to go to Bora Bora, I always see pictures there. I swear I was posting on Justgirlythings at 16 about wanting to go there. Any of the major cities, too. I’ve never been to Paris, so, one day.
What were your early internet obsessions?
I was into a lot of the inspirational quote Tumblr blogs. I was obsessed with Before I Die, a bucket list Tumblr account. That’s where I got the idea to put text on pictures. I love that stuff, even on Instagram I’m still reposting inspirational quotes and things like that. I wasn’t really part of a fandom or anything back then, but at this point I probably would be if Tumblr was still around in the way it was then.
Did your wife know the account?
She showed me her first Instagram post was a Justgirlythings repost, which is so funny to me. She had seen stuff, but she wasn’t on Tumblr until 2014—closer to the end of its prime—so she didn’t really know what the account was. When I told her it was me, a few months into dating, she didn’t believe me. I wasn’t talking about it frequently at that point. She made me show her my Tumblr account.
2011 was a very specific time in culture, what from that time would you want to bring back?
Tumblr, the way it was in that time. But Tumblr had a dark side too, it was kind of depressing, so that part can stay. I don’t want that.
