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Hey Roni! ~ Copycat Couture!
One womanās struggle to stay original.
Welcome to Hey Roni!, the corner of the grid where opinions are loud, sarcasm is free, and no pixel is safe from a little side-eye. Every Thursday, āHey Roniā will dive headfirst into resident-submitted questions with heartfelt dilemmas and give genuine advice or get on her soapbox and share one of her infamous Roniās Rants, nothing is off limits.
This column is written strictly for entertainment and satirical purposes. The opinions, observations, hot takes, and questionable life choices expressed by Roni are solely her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of SL Insider, its staff, affiliates, partners, advertisers, or anyone with common sense.
Hey Roni,
I recently made a new friend in Second Life, and sheās been wonderful. We get along great, we shop together, laugh together, and sheās genuinely one of the sweetest people Iāve met.
Thereās just one tiny problemā¦ She has apparently decided that I am her personal style guide.
At first it was flattering. Iād buy a new hairstyle. The next dayā¦ she had it.
Then Iād buy a cute outfit. The next time we hung outā¦ there she was wearing the exact same outfit.
Okay, coincidence.
Then it became every hairstyle.
Every outfit.
Every pair of shoes.
Every accessory.
And not just the same itemsā¦The same colors. The same patterns. The same HUD choices.
Now sheās even started tweaking her shape, and every time I see her she looks just a little bit moreā¦ me.
Donāt get me wrong. Iām thrilled the designers are making extra sales because of it, and imitation is supposedly the sincerest form of flattery.
But I like having my own style.
I spend a lot of time putting outfits together, experimenting with colors, and creating a look that feels uniquely me. I donāt expect to be the only person wearing a particular outfit, but I also wasnāt planning on accidentally creating my own identical twin.
The awkward part is that sheās a new friend, and I really donāt want to hurt her feelings. I donāt think sheās doing it to be creepy. (I hope).
Is there a kind way to tell someone, āYouāre amazingā¦ but I donāt really want a clone,ā without sounding like a complete jerk?
Signed,
Seeing Double
Dear Seeing Double,
Oh Girl, I donāt think youāre being a jerk at all.
One of every womanās biggest nightmares is showing up to a party wearing the exact same dress as someone else. Then comes the inevitable questionā¦ āWho wore it better?ā
And nobody wants that! Especially when youāve spent time and effort putting together a style that feels uniquely yours.
Now, before we sound the alarm, I do think itās important to figure out why sheās copying you.
Hopefully, itās simply admiration.
Butā¦
if sheās tweaking her shape too, Iām not going to lieā¦ itās starting to feel just a little Single White Female-esque.
Has she started trying to insert herself into your friend group as āthe other you?ā Has she begun mimicking your mannerisms? Have you found any photographs where youāve mysteriously been cropped out?
Okayā¦ maybe Iām getting carried away.
ā¦but those are definitely things Iād keep an eye on if the behavior continues.
Now, if youāre convinced her intentions are completely innocent, I have a different approach.
Become her Fairy God-Designer!
You already enjoy spending time together, so lean into that. Take her shopping. Have a girlsā spa day. Wander events together. Help her discover her style instead of borrowing yours.
Ask what colors make her feel beautiful.
Help her find a hairstyle that screams her name instead of yours.
Compliment her when she tries something different.
Become her biggest cheerleader as she builds an identity thatās all her own.
You can even buy matching outfits if thatās your thingā¦ just encourage her to pick a different color. Coordinate instead of duplicate.
Tell her you want a partner in crime. A dynamic duo.
Not your long-lost identical twin.
If sheās simply looking up to you, sheāll probably appreciate your help and eventually blossom into her own unique style.
Butā¦
If she pushes back, refuses every suggestion, and insists on becoming your carbon copy despite your gentle encouragementā¦
Wellā¦Iād probably start creating a little distance.
Because admiration is healthy.
Identity theft with a shopping HUD?
Not so much.
Got a question for Hey Roni?
Need advice, want to vent, confess your latest grid disaster, or submit a topic for Roniās Rants? Fill out the anonymous submission form and maybe your question will be featured in an upcoming column. No names. No judgment. (Wellā¦ maybe a little judgment.)
