If you’re not sure what a “glo-up” is, it’s a pretty viral social media term that millennials use to describe a huge change in self. Basically, it’s like the story of the ugly duckling that grew up to be a beautiful swan. Think of it as the ugly pre-teen who had acne and braces, who then grew up to be a runway model. We all have our own versions of “glo-ups.” The term has been used numerous times to describe celebrities who got better looking with age, or even people we knew in our own hometowns. But, we’ve never seen the term “glo-up” being used like this.
People online in the LGBTQ community are using the glo-up trend to show before and after pictures of coming out of the closet. In the before pictures, they’re photographed looking unhappy and unsatisfied with the opposite sex – whether it be at prom or a date – and posting it side by side with up-to-date photos of them with their new girlfriend/boyfriend. Basically, they show how much happier they are that they discovered their true taste in men/women and came out of the closet publicly. It’s pretty inspiring.
Freshman to senior year, does this count as a glo up??? pic.twitter.com/zyH1GRE3hw
— Cait! (@caitlincrowley_) October 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/hayleypellow/status/923577332534616064
https://twitter.com/rsam______/status/924338319995043848
I wanna play! Senior prom vs. The day I got engaged pic.twitter.com/wYDRHrw69Q
— Semler (@gracebaldridge) October 29, 2017
same pic.twitter.com/vpdWlTPEcI
— Julia Cates (@juliacates) October 27, 2017
definitely a glo up 🏳️🌈✨ pic.twitter.com/Ylvz0L7yV6
— Maddyjay (@maddygiglio) October 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/danielmonsalve/status/924812657990995968
https://twitter.com/c_nabrizny17/status/924484139948093440
https://twitter.com/Kenzie_Kenzie_/status/923705659714977792
https://twitter.com/KarinaKarrina/status/924858091518042112
https://twitter.com/Wolfire95/status/924826217014054912
https://twitter.com/lovelladdie/status/924763838867824640
Senior year to senior year. I’ll choose @keepit_spoopy any day 😍 pic.twitter.com/8JiPdK05xj
— LP (@LPyouknowme) October 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/amcupelli/status/924726268989509637
this glo up… pic.twitter.com/b6N4X3j9FJ
— Ally🌈 (@allybarryy) October 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/brooklyntonnarr/status/924606753844678656
https://twitter.com/prinxcessp/status/923732619178795010
https://twitter.com/devinvasion/status/923412299167289344
https://twitter.com/vonvoncake/status/924001580449374208
https://twitter.com/prolly_caro/status/923705583374446592
The glow up is real. Marrying this girl in less than a year 💖 pic.twitter.com/51RTNNYrwr
— Maddie (@Maddie_Crisman) October 30, 2017
Someone grab me some tissues, I’m in actual tears.