It’s National Girlfriends Day! But Why Are the Boyfriends Taking Over?

Once upon a time—not too long ago—National Girlfriends Day was all about sisterhood, female friendship, and celebrating the women who keep us sane when life gets wild. Best friends, soul sisters, ride-or-dies… August 1st was their day to shine. But scroll through social media now and you’ll notice a surprising plot twist: somehow, this feel-good girls-only celebration has been rebranded into a second Valentine’s Day—and Gen Z is running with it. Where It All Began National Girlfriends Day was officially created in 2004 by American authors Kathleen Laing and Elizabeth Butterfield to promote their book Girlfriends Getaway. The idea? Encourage women to cherish and celebrate their close female friends—those lifelong connections that go deeper than any dating drama. From spa days to lunch dates and “girls just wanna have fun” energy, the day was intended to be light-hearted, empowering, and deeply personal. Over the years, the date caught on, especially in the U.S. and parts of Europe, slowly creeping into social media calendars alongside Galentine’s Day and International Women’s Day. Nigeria, always one to catch on to global trends, adopted it too—except now, it’s evolved into something way more romantic (and way more expensive, let’s be honest). Romance Hijacks the Day In the age of “soft life” and couples content, what was once “Girls celebrating Girls” has shifted into “Boyfriends celebrating their Girlfriends.” Suddenly, National Girlfriends Day is more about surprise flowers, date nights, iPhones in shoe boxes, and love notes than brunch dates with your bestie. Thanks to TikTok and Instagram Reels, you’ll now find boyfriends planning elaborate gestures to show off their romantic side. Gen Z girls post “what he got me for Girlfriends Day” hauls. Influencers soft-launch relationships. Caption games are strong. It's giving Valentine’s Day with a Gen Z filter—emotional, aesthetic, and ready for the algorithm. But Not Everyone’s Mad About It Some think the boyfriend takeover is cute—after all, who doesn’t want extra appreciation? Others argue that the original meaning of the day is fading fast. Instead of celebrating sisterhood, the focus has shifted to romance, and some say it sends the wrong message. Like one Twitter user joked: > “Girlfriends Day was for besties until y’all made it about who’s getting Dior and dinner dates. Where’s my spa date with Chioma?!” Still, many are choosing to celebrate both sides. You’ll see girls taking their besties out for lunch and expecting a gift from their man later in the day. It’s a double-edged celebration—and Nigerians, of course, know how to enjoy both. What It Means Now At the end of the day, National Girlfriends Day has evolved into a cultural cocktail of friendship, romance, and social media trends. Whether you’re popping bottles with your girls, getting spoiled by your man, or both—it’s clear this day now belongs to the lovers and the loyal friends. And if you’re still confused about who the “girlfriend” in Girlfriends Day is supposed to be—don’t worry, so is the internet.