BLISS. SUGAR. MIZZ. Nope, not the name of long-gone retro sweets, but the magazines that teenage girls clung to as if their lives depended on them back in the 1990s.
And in a funny way, maybe our social lives actually did depend on mags like Just Seventeen and My Guy.
Here are 9 reasons why magazines for teenage girls ruled:
Problem pages
The best reason to read teen mags was the problem pages. If you were worrying about kissing boys, embarrassing yourself in front of our schoolmates, or anything sex-related, you could usually find the answer here.
But the best bit was reading about all those other people whose problems were a trillion times worse than yours. That always made you feel better.
FREE stuff
All the lipglosses and glitter you could ever want, and FOR FREE. How our little hearts jumped.
Pic: Ebay
Posters
If your bedroom wasn’t covered in 6ft posters of boy band members or now-long-forgotten UK teen stars, you were doing it wrong. It didn’t matter if you didn’t know anything about them (hi, Sean Maguire), if they were famous enough to be emblazoned on shiny paper, they were going on your bedroom wall.
Exotic fashion
Back in the early 90s, there was nothing more exotic than owning clothes that were not bought Ireland. Every issue of teen mags that contained a fashion spread inevitably had clothes that there was no way we could get our hands on easily, which made those patterned leggings and crop tops all the more alluring.
Feeling older than your years
When you were finally allowed to buy teen mags, and not Bunty, it was truly a moment to be cherished. Finally, finally, you were a ‘mature teenager’. Whatever that means. (It mainly meant dissecting the magazines with friends after reading them)
True stories
From the toe-curlingly embarrassing to the downright shocking, the ‘true stories’ featured in teen mags might not have always been true, but they were always entertaining. And, like the problem pages, made your own life seem far more normal.
Sex education
Woefully lacking in most Irish schools, these mags told you everything you wanted (and didn’t want) to know about sex. Which is presumably why some parents tried to stop teens reading them for as long as possible.
Thinking famous people might go out with you
(Pic: Ebay)
Interviews with famous people usually revolved around inane questions and trying to make it out like people like David Beckham would go out with ordinary girls like you. And we usually bought into the ruse.
Quizzes
Every magazine had a different quiz, most of which revolved around relationships, boys, school, and maybe periods. All the good stuff.
What are your memories of magazines for teen girls?
