Take a look at your social media platforms right now and you’ll see a slew of posts with the hashtag #ThisLittleGirlIsMe, accompanied by inspiring stories of how these (now grown-up) women have achieved their goals despite various setbacks along their way. 

Since launching in 2021, the global initiative in aid of International Day of the Girl has garnered huge support across  Instagram and LinkedIn, with the latter saying the hashtag has created the most “sensational buzz” ever on the platform.

We all know there is a lack of women at the top of many careers – and those who have made it have had to smash their way through the glass ceiling. But research by the UK-based charity Inspiring Girls International shows that 93% of girls have higher personal and career aspirations after following inspiring women on social media.

While social media usage among young girls can often be negative, this initiative is a great example of how a carefully curated feed really can be a force for good.

The brainchild of the charity’s founder, Miriam González Durántez, the idea behind the hashtag is simple – it aims to give girls across the world easy access to female role models, as women across the globe post photos of themselves as children accompanied by the story of how they got to where they are today and the advice they would give their younger selves.

“There are millions of women out there doing amazing things and young girls should be able to look to them to realise how many possibilities they have in life,” González Durántez says on her charity’s website. “Leading by example is the best way to show girls how they can achieve.”

It’s inspiring stuff – and the posts aren’t limited to professional high achievers, it’s as much about personal growth as it is career aspirations. 

It’s really easy to support the initiative, which is running from 4–18 October this year. All you need to do is share a photo or video of yourself as a young girl on LinkedIn or Instagram, along with your story or a piece of advice you’d give your childhood self.

Then invite your followers to share their own stories with the hashtags #ThisLittleGirlIsMe and #SupportInspiringGirls, and follow the viral trend for a huge dose of feel-good energy – and maybe together we really can make change happen. 

Images: Getty