A young woman has captured the remarkable transformation of her now-husband, attributing it to the phenomenon known as the “girlfriend effect.”
Drew Jarvis (@drewrjarvis), 24, the founder of Sunny Period from Denver, Colorado, recently shared a TikTok video highlighting how her husband, Griffin McCammon (he/they), also 24, has undergone a dramatic style evolution since they met.
The video, which has attracted significant attention, garnering over 160,000 likes and more than 2 million views, showcases Griffin’s incredible change in appearance. However, Jarvis is quick to clarify that she doesn’t deserve all the credit.
“For Grif, he wore a lot of casual loungewear in college when we first met but now often dresses in linen trousers, button-ups, accessorizes with jewelry and sunglasses, and changes his hair all the time.
Grif’s style before and after. Drew Jarvis owes her partner’s transformation to her encouragement of their self-expression.
@drewrjarvis/@drewrjarvis
“A lot of people have the misconception that it’s the girlfriend/wife/partner who is forcing the other person to change or look a certain way, but it’s really not. We just grew up,” Jarvis told Newsweek.
The video captures old footage of McCammon in a variety of outfits, such as a polo shirt paired with chinos, a striped shirt with ripped skinny jeans, and a sweater with black track pants. The transformation is striking when the clip cuts to more recent footage, showcasing Griffin’s chic new look, complete with a blonde buzz cut and more polished looks.
During their honeymoon in Seville, Spain, Jarvis filmed McCammon sporting open short shirts layered over tank tops, tailored trousers, and shades.
Jarvis shared with Newsweek that their relationship is built on mutual encouragement. “To Grif and I, it’s about having a partner that encourages you to be your full self, get out of your comfort zone, and play with fashion and self-expression. I don’t ever pick out his clothes or put together his outfits.
“Grif’s style is 100 percent his own! I just support whatever fashion choices he chooses to make,” she said.
The “girlfriend effect” refers to the noticeable improvement in a person’s style, grooming, and overall appearance after entering a relationship. This trend has gained popularity on social media, as people document their partner’s style evolution, often attributing it to their influence.
She wrote in the caption that the phenomenon was “scientifically proven.” However, as Jarvis’s story illustrates, the “girlfriend effect” can be more about mutual growth and support rather than one partner dictating the other’s appearance.
Many commenters praised McCammon’s impressive metamorphosis.
“My compliments to the chef,” posted Allison Novelo.
“You SAVED his life the gasp I gasped,” wrote Marcela.
“When I tell you my jaw dropped. Yes girl he just had to keep up with you,” commented Molly.
“Excellent work,” added Hayley.
Despite the positive feedback, Jarvis added that she also faced some criticism.
“There are some, mostly cis men online, that get nasty and hateful, but it gives me the opportunity to help educate about gender expression and what it’s like to have a supportive partner,” she said.
Jarvis added that she sees the “girlfriend effect” as a lighthearted trend that, at its core, showcases companionship.
“At the end of the day, it’s a fun and silly trend, but I do hope that the people who want to dig deeper into it, really just see two people who love each other and support each other’s exploration in self-expression,” Jarvis said.
