Is Smoking Cool Again? Inside the Celebrity Smoke Break Revival

D’Loraine here, Girlboss’ contributing writer.

As a child of the ‘90s, I vividly recall the days of dining out with my parents; the acrid scent of cigarette smoke from a few tables down wafting through the air. 😖 (Did you know people smoked on airplanes, too?!) 💀 Also, like many a millennial, I was around to witness the swift backlash against Big Tobacco not long after.

But lately, it seems the cool girls have been reaching for a pack of fancy French slims over the latest Erewhon smoothie drop. And it’s def not just me who’s seeing it! Here, we’re unpacking the big smoking renaissance that’s taking over your timelines. 🚬📱

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Is Everyone on a Smoke Break Without Me?

In 2013, Gwyneth Paltrow admitted to indulging in a single cigarette every week. This came as a shock to many, given the Goop founder’s bone broth-drinking, Pilates-going persona. 😮 But also because smoking had fallen out of favor after aggressive anti-tobacco campaigns.

Of course, that’s not to say your faves weren’t lighting up behind closed doors (working in magazines, I saw my fair share of squeaky-clean celebs lighting up at private media events and afterparties). 🫣

But these days, it seems nobody—from Dua Lipa to the Heated Rivalry heartthrobs—is hiding the fact that they smoke cigs. But why?!

‼️ So… smoking is fashionable again?

According to your social feeds and pop culture in general: yes. 🥴 Think a beaming Hailey Bieber with a smoke between her pearly whites on the cover of Interview Magazine. Both Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams of Heated Rivalry fame have also been spotted taking drags of cigarettes while out and about. And of course, there was Sarah Pidgeon’s portrayal of ‘90s cig-puffing cool-girl Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in Love Story. So yes, I guess it’s in ✨vogue.✨

🤨 OK, but are non-celebs actually smoking?

While there isn’t solid data to back it up, Newsweek reports that it’s primarily Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), driven by social media, who are cracking open packs. In an Instagram post from last fall, fashion account @style.analytics reported that Pinterest searches for the keyword “smoking pose” had increased by 70% year-on-year among 18- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. 🤳📸

🤔 Why is this happening?

You don’t need us to tell you that the world is an utter shitshow right now, babes. 😫🔥🗑️ And god forbid you need a little something to take the edge off (à la Ben Affleck smoking a cig after a long day).

“I think it comes down to a kind of healthy degree of nihilism, paired with the sense that the ‘American dream’ (whatever version of it you subscribe to) feels more out of reach than ever,” Jared Oviatt, founder of IG account @cigfluencers—which boasts over 100K followers—told Newsweek. “The classic path of going to school, buying a house, and raising a family just doesn’t seem realistic for most people right now. And even in an age of AI, a cigarette feels like something tangible in a world that’s becoming increasingly less so. In that sense, why not have a cheeky cigarette?” Well, lots of reasons why not actually…

😷 But smoking is bad for your health, right?

Despite how chic and unbothered Charli XCX looks puffing away in her “Rock Music” video, most of us are very well aware of the harmful effects of smoking. Per the CDC, smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and is known to cause cancer, heart disease and stroke, lung diseases, and the list goes on. Yes, the world is currently a dumpster fire, but if you haven’t already picked up the habit, it’s probably best not to now… despite what your fave it girls and internet boyfriends are telling you. 🙂‍↔️ May we suggest a crispy cold fridge cigarette instead?

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