Teen’s ‘glo up’ tweet goes viral

We all have that awkward formal photo where we’re seen posing uncomfortably beside our date.

However for US teen Caitlin Crowley, there was one very important reason for her uncomfortable freshman prom photo standing next to her friend Dylan, and it’s made completely obvious when she posted a recent comparison snap of her looking loved up next to her girlfriend, Kirrin.

“Freshman to senior year, does this count as a glo up?” Caitlin captioned her tweet.

For those not in the know (or not born in the 90s), Urban Dictionary defines a glo up as “referring to a person's incredible transformation. This is usually based on increase of style and self-confidence”.

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With the second snap showing the pair sharing a cute kiss at Kirrin’s homecoming dance, 17-year-old Caitlin’s photo has sparked a viral trend for people to share how their lives have changed since they were able to truly be themselves.

Since posting her tweet last week – and receiving 35,000 retweets and 135,000 likes in the meantime – Caitlin is proud of the awareness she’s raising.

“Hearing the stories of complete strangers and their own coming out fears really hit me hard, because when I was first coming to terms with my sexuality I didn’t know a single lesbian,” she told Buzzfeed.

“To anyone who’s still in the closet: take your time, you are not alone, and you are valid!”

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