Leo Face

If you pay attention to your Facebook notifications around August, you might notice a peculiar trend. Perhaps the profile pictures flooding your Birthday feed seem oddly…similar? A well-crafted selfie with a subtle Valencia haze? Long hair framing the face, unkempt yet styled to perfection? Eyes wide, smile soft? It’s as if they’re hiding a piece of gossip so destructive, even Blair Waldorf should take caution. This hot trend can be described in two words: Leo face. Taking Instagram by storm, Teen Vogue predicts this craze will be hotter than the 2016 choker come-back. And why shouldn’t it be? Leos are hot. Not just in the way they can execute a selfie to Paris Hilton level flawlessness (who just happens to be a Leo moon herself), but also in the way they carry themselves. ​

Most Leo personality descriptions will detail the confidence of the astrological lion. However, many Leos would disagree with this generalized, and often false label. Their impeccable style and charming personality would have you fooled. But below their bold exterior, is a person who craves intimacy and sincerely wants to be liked. Some take this too far by overdrinking and over performing, which is why they get a lot of flak for being “annoying.” Growing up with a Leo mother, I’ve witnessed this firsthand. Hand over her fourth Corona and she’ll be cackling with my grandparents over colonoscopies till 1 in the morning. That’s a lie. She’s always passed out by 11. But that’s beside the point. As someone with Leo rising myself, I’ve inherited the drunken Leo cackle, and it’s not something we’re proud of. Leo’s are keenly aware of how they’re coming across at any given moment. Once the alcohol has digested, and the morning Advil ingested, my mom and I can reflect on how annoying we were the night before. “I was cackling, wasn’t I? Did I offend my dad? I was just having a good time.”

​And if there’s one thing Leos excel at, it’s having a good time. Always five sips ahead, you can tell they’ve hit their peak when they start complementing you, your friend, and the next three people who just walked through the door. Leo moons are especially skilled at beer pong. Next time you gear up for a round of pong, ask for the natal charts of everyone on your team. Any decent person should have those handy at all times. And if it’s anything like my college experience, the results will be astounding. ​

But let’s not forget about the more reserved Leos. Even the shyest of the fixed fire, when in the right setting, will light up the room with giggles when interacting with a close friend. Their quiet, yet powerful presence, won’t go unnoticed by the group. And how could they when they look so damn fierce? So the next time you spot Leo face, give that selfie a double tap. They’ll appreciate it more than you know. And in the words of Paris Hilton, “That’s hot.”