The phrase “hot girls” may not be a traditional voting bloc recognized by pollsters, but it has gained prominence in online discussions, particularly since the 2020 election.
It all began in 2020 when model Emily Ratajkowski officially endorsed Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign before the pandemic hit.
Inspired by Ratajkowski, many self-identified hot girls shared their endorsements on social media, posting selfies with the hashtag #HotGirlsForBernie.
This was seen by some as a counter to the narrative of the “Bernie bro,” a stereotype suggesting that Sanders’s supporters were predominantly obnoxious men.
Fast forward five years, and “Hot Girls for Bernie” has become something of a nostalgia piece among young progressives, a remnant of the hope they felt before the resurgence of Trump.
Recently, the catchphrase has made a comeback, this time in support of Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and state assemblyman from Queens, who is running for mayor of New York City.
The social media account “Hot Girls 4 Zohran” has surfaced on platforms like X and Instagram, offering free Mamdani merchandise to promote his campaign.
Although the account is not officially affiliated with Mamdani’s campaign, it highlights the grassroots enthusiasm surrounding his candidacy.
While Mamdani lacks the widespread recognition of prominent contenders like current mayor Eric Adams or former governor Andrew Cuomo, his campaign taps into a progressive base eager for change.
His proposed policies—including increasing the city’s minimum wage from $16.50 to $30, opening city-owned grocery stores, and offering free childcare and bus fares—could easily spark fear among conservative commentators.
Mamdani, who once pursued a career in rap and is the son of indie filmmaker Mira Nair, feels most at home on social media, especially TikTok.
His nerdy-cool vibe has earned him features in notable publications like GQ and Interview Magazine, where he engaged with influential figures from New York.
His campaign recently secured $8 million from over 18,000 citywide donors, meeting the fundraising limit set by the city.
The “Hot Girls 4 Zohran” initiative is managed by Brooklyn residents Cait, 24, and Kaif, 28, who chose to keep their last names private for safety reasons.
Cait, who is active on social media platform X, has faced harassment from those who oppose her political views, yet she continues to advocate publicly, posing with Hot Girls 4 Zohran merchandise.
Both Cait and Kaif support Mamdani for his commitment to making the city more affordable for the working class, prioritizing individual small donors instead of catering to wealthy contributors.
Cait stated, “We’re both fairly skeptical of institutional politicians, especially given the last election.
We really just want to get his name out there.”
The branding of “hot girls” is intended to serve as a fun and empowering way for voters to self-identify and encourage others to join.
“It’s empowering for women, and it brings us together,” Cait explained.
Kaif noted that they describe “girl” in a broad sense, seeing it as more of a mindset than strictly a gender classification.
He mentioned that many men have expressed interest in the T-shirts as well.
Cait was still in high school when the Hot Girls for Bernie movement went viral, recognizing the community’s value from a young age.
Her inspiration came from Danaka Katovich, who organized a group chat for hot girl Bernie supporters in 2020 after observing the playful memes around Ratajkowski’s endorsement.
Katovich recalled, “I’m surprised people are still doing this.
Back then, journalists would ask: ‘What does Hot Girls for Bernie mean to you?’ It didn’t mean anything to me, as it started as a joke.
While some criticized the label for being superficial or exclusive, Katovich maintains it was meant to be inclusive.
“Anyone could post a picture; non-binary people were included,” she asserted.
Kari Winter, a professor in the global gender and sexuality studies department at the University at Buffalo, shared similar sentiments regarding the term “hot girls.”
She believes it can be a flexible term, reflecting the multifaceted existence of those who identify with it.
“It reminds me of a time when a lot of us had bumper stickers and T-shirts that said, ‘This is what a feminist looks like,’” she stated.
In a recent poll conducted by AARP New York and Siena College, Cuomo holds a significant lead among the Democratic candidates with 34%, while Mamdani trails at 16%.
Additionally, 20% of Democratic voters remain undecided among the nine total candidates.
The June primary will utilize ranked-choice voting, where voters list their preferences, adding complexity to the process.
While Cuomo currently leads, Winter believes Mamdani’s focus on engaging working-class voters offers valuable lessons for Democrats.
“They need to understand that energizing people requires moving away from appealing to a mythical middle and instead galvanizing disillusioned voters,” she stated.
The Democratic national convention might not recognize a hot girl delegation, but supporters of the movement emphasize it had depth beyond its playful exterior.
Hadiya Afzal, a former DePaul University student and activist in the Sanders group chat, noted that many of her peers have pursued careers in progressive politics, continuing to fight for their causes.
“Ultimately, it’s about the policies,” Afzal asserted.
“There would have been no Hot Girls for Bernie without an actual policy platform.
That’s what made it meaningful.”
At Hot Girls 4 Zohran, Cait and Kaif hope to use their T-shirts as more than mere social media props.
They envision wearing them out in public creates more visibility and mobilizes voters across generations.
Kaif expressed their ultimate goal: building “the single largest volunteer operation” for any mayoral race in New York, aiming for 10,000 door knockers to support Mamdani’s candidacy.
One of those volunteers is Joshua Leirer, a 37-year-old resident of Ridgewood, Queens.
When Leirer canvassed in a Brooklyn park last March, he noted an overwhelming turnout of volunteers, having to stretch into the park’s outskirts.
He described the volunteers as “hot,” emphasizing that they were friendly and approachable.
“The people I talked to were really cool and friendly,” he shared.
“A lot of glasses, a lot of beanies.
I would call it a Brooklyn hot.”
image source from：https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/18/hot-girls-zohran-new-york-city-mayor
