The Importance of Female Friendships

When I was getting married, I picked one friend from each season of my life to be a bridesmaid:

Lexi and I met when we were about 8 years old. We'd have sleepovers at her house and giggle over boys while playing with Littlest Pet Shop figurines.

Katelyn and I became friends in middle school at the ripe and raw age of 13. We'd create silly music videos on her back patio and go out shopping while gushing about our crushes.

I met Madison while at university at the formative age of 18. We would dance shamelessly around our apartment to One Direction and put off studying to go thrifting.

Kathryn and I became friends in London when I was 24, and we've always loved going out for coffees or cocktails while having deep chats about life.

Each of these friends play an important role in my life. They've carried me through immense grief and celebrated my milestones; they've seen me pine after crushes, succeed and fail in various ventures, move abroad, get married and everything in between. They chose me and I have chosen them time and time again.

That's what makes friendship so beautiful to me; you choose to show up for these people simply because you love them. And oftentimes, it just seems to happen; unlike dating, there's no formal conversation clarifying whether you're acquaintances or something more. Unlike marriage, you don't vow to stand beside each other in sickness and in health. There's no ceremony with cake or speeches full of promises to stand by each other "until death do us part." Unlike siblings, you aren't born into the same family and expected to love and support each other. Your parents aren't there to facilitate apologies when you call your best friend a mean name or "borrow" her top without asking. There is nothing that legally or biologically binds you together; you just found each other at the right time, right place and share this unspoken agreement to be there for one another in all circumstances. Friendships aren't recognised like familial relations or romantic relations, but my gosh, do they have such a profound impact on your life.

What's more is that there is no competition or comparison between two women who are truly friends. In a world where women are constantly pitted against or compared to each other, it's such a relief to be around women who genuinely want to see you succeed and love to celebrate when you do. As a woman, it can feel like you exist under a microscope, and it would be easy to put those around us under that same microscope, but I think there's a lot of power in women coming together to root for each other and just exist freely as they are. When you have people like that in your corner, it allows you to be silly, carefree and confidently you. You move through this world a little more confidently when you know your girls have your back and love you for you. And I desperately want that for every woman, which is a large part of why Rove & Frolic exists.

It's crucial that women have spaces where they are truly welcomed and wanted, celebrated and empowered, and I hope Rove & Frolic will be that for many more women to come, because female friendships are so important. I'm sure there's research somewhere out there that proves it's good for your health and wellbeing, but I don't need to read it to know it's true, I've experienced it.

So to all the women I call "friend," thank you for your friendship. And for all the women looking for those kinds of friends that make you feel like your best self and celebrate you, you're invited to sit with us. There's always space for more at Rove & Frolic. x