The IT Girls of the 1980s: How Cable, MTV, and VHS Created a New Kind of Icon

The 1980s didn’t just create new stars—it changed how fame worked. Thanks to the rise of cable television, MTV, and VHS, stardom was no longer tied strictly to new releases. What mattered most was repetition. Visibility. Being everywhere.

Superstations like WTBS ran nonstop reruns of shows such as Gilligan’s Island, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Brady Bunch. MTV turned musicians into visual icons. VHS made movies endlessly rewatchable. Together, these technologies created a new phenomenon: the 1980s IT girl—a cultural figure defined by omnipresence rather than era.

Music: MTV Turned Singers into Visual Icons

Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles

When MTV launched in 1981, music became inseparable from image. A song could make you popular—but a video could make you iconic.

• Madonna – The ultimate 1980s IT girl, constantly reinventing music, fashion, and attitude.

• Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles) – Her wide-eyed charm in “Walk Like an Egyptian” made her one of MTV’s most recognizable faces.

• Joan Jett – Leather-clad, defiant, and unapologetic, she redefined what an IT girl could look like.

• Janet Jackson – Control (1986) transformed her into a visual and cultural powerhouse.

• Debbie Gibson – Burst onto the scene as the ultimate teen pop IT girl, writing, producing, and performing hits that made her a fixture on MTV, daytime television, and magazine covers, defining the sound and style of mid-1980s youth culture.

• Whitney Houston (1985) – With her powerful voice, crossover appeal, and polished glamour, Houston dominated pop and R&B charts in the mid-to-late 1980s. Her record-breaking hits and poised image made her one of the decade’s most influential and aspirational global superstars.

• Cyndi Lauper (Music and pop culture icon) – Known for her bold individuality, colorful fashion, and fearless self-expression, Lauper became a defining face of 80s pop. Hits like Girls Just Want to Have Fun turned her into a symbol of creative freedom and female empowerment.

• Tiffany (Pop singer and teen idol, 1987–1989) – With her mall tours, chart-topping hit I Think We’re Alone Now, and relatable girl-next-door image, Tiffany became a defining teen IT girl of the late 80s. Her success captured the era’s obsession with youth-driven pop, fan culture, and MTV visibility.

• Belinda Carlisle (Music and fashion icon, 1982–1989) – As the lead singer of The Go-Go’s and later a solo pop sensation, Carlisle became an 80s IT girl through her catchy hits, platinum blonde hair, and approachable glam style. Her blend of girl-next-door charm and pop star edge made her a defining figure in both music and youth fashion.

• Tina Turner (Music powerhouse, 1984–1989) – Turner’s 80s comeback with Private Dancer turned her into an international superstar and ultimate IT girl. Her electrifying voice, unstoppable energy, and rock-chic style—including her signature big hair and leather outfits—made her an enduring icon of empowerment, style, and star power. I would be remiss if I didn't mention her iconic legs.

• Olivia Newton-John (Music and film icon, 1978–1983) – Best known for Grease and her string of 80s pop hits, Newton-John blended girl-next-door appeal with sleek glamour. Her iconic style, dance-ready performances, and wholesome yet sexy image made her a defining IT girl bridging film, fashion, and music.

MTV didn’t just promote music—it created identities.

Movies: VHS and Cable Made Stars Permanent

Kelly LeBrock in Weird Science

The 1980s movie boom produced iconic performances, but it was VHS tapes and cable reruns that turned those moments into permanent cultural touchstones.

• Elisabeth Shue (The Karate Kid) – The all-American dream girl whose image lived on through endless cable airings.

• Keri Green (The Goonies) – Athletic, confident, and effortlessly cool, Green became iconic through repetition rather than volume of roles.

• Phoebe Cates (Fast Times at Ridgemont High) – A single scene, replayed endlessly, sealed her legacy.

• Jennifer Beals (Flashdance) – A visual icon whose style defined the decade.

• Kelly LeBrock (Weird Science, 1985) – Teen fantasy fashion icon.

• Lea Thompson (Back to the Future, 1985) – Smart, fashionable, and iconic as Marty McFly’s girlfriend.

• Molly Ringwald (Sixteen Candles, 1984; The Breakfast Club, 1985; Pretty in Pink, 1986) – The quintessential 1980s teen IT girl. Fashionable, relatable, and endlessly rewatched thanks to VHS and cable.

• Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club, 1985; Short Circuit, 1986) – Quirky, intelligent, and alternative teen style; a cult favorite.

• Demi Moore (St. Elmo’s Fire, 1985) – Part of the “Brat Pack,” known for glamour and trendsetting 1980s fashion.

• Bo Derek (10, 1979) – While the film premiered just before the ’80s, her style and presence dominated early 1980s pop culture, influencing fashion, swimwear, and hair trends.

• Carrie Fisher (Star Wars franchise, 1977 onward; continued cultural impact in the 1980s) – As Princess Leia, Fisher became an iconic figure of beauty, strength, and pop-culture cool. Though Star Wars debuted in the late ’70s, her metal bikini in Return of the Jedi (1983) became one of the most enduring and talked-about images of the decade, cementing her status as a defining 1980s IT girl, blending glamour, rebellion, and unforgettable style.

• Mia Sara (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986) – Best known as Sloane Peterson, Ferris Bueller’s effortlessly cool girlfriend, Sara embodied understated 80s glamour. Her sleek style and calm confidence made her a quiet but lasting IT-girl presence in teen film culture.

• Jennifer Grey (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986; Dirty Dancing, 1987) – As Jeanie Bueller, Ferris’s sharp-tongued sister, Grey showcased relatable attitude and edge. Her IT-girl status was cemented soon after with Dirty Dancing, where her girl-next-door appeal and iconic performance defined late-80s pop culture.

• Nicolette Scorsese (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, 1989) – Playing Mary, the lingerie-clad saleswoman, Scorsese became an instant 80s pop culture crush. Her brief but memorable role exemplified the decade’s fixation on bombshell beauty and cemented her status as an unforgettable screen IT girl.

• Kim Basinger (Film and fashion icon, 1983–1989) – Rising to fame with roles in Never Say Never Again, 9½ Weeks, and Batman, Basinger became one of the ultimate 80s IT girls. Her sultry screen presence, high-fashion modeling background, and blonde bombshell appeal made her a defining symbol of 1980s glamour and sex appeal.

• Michelle Pfeiffer (Film superstar, 1983–1989) – With standout roles in Scarface, The Witches of Eastwick, and later her iconic turn as Catwoman in Batman Returns, Pfeiffer became one of Hollywood’s most enduring IT girls. Her striking beauty, versatility, and cool sophistication defined late-80s glamour and carried seamlessly into the early 1990s.

• Janet Jones (Film and fashion icon, 1983–1989) – Known for roles in A Chorus Line, Staying Alive, and The Flamingo Kid, American Anthem, Jones became an IT girl of the 1980s through her dancer’s physique, striking beauty, and trend-setting style. A frequent fashion magazine presence, she embodied the era’s sleek, upscale glamour and Hollywood cool.

• Jennifer Connelly (Film and fashion muse, 1984–1989) – Rising to fame with Once Upon a Time in America, Labyrinth, and Career Opportunities, Connelly became an IT girl through her striking features, dark-haired beauty, and ethereal screen presence. Her crossover into fashion campaigns and cult films made her a favorite of designers, photographers, and cinephiles in the late 1980s.

• Jasmine Guy (Television, dance, and fashion icon, 1987–1989) – Best known for her breakout role on A Different World, Guy became an IT girl through her natural beauty, dancer’s grace, and trend-setting style. Her influence on late-80s fashion—especially hair, makeup, and campus-inspired looks—made her a cultural style leader and a defining face of the era’s television landscape.

• Daryl Hannah (Film and fashion icon, 1982–1989) – Known for Splash, Blade Runner, and Roxanne, Hannah’s ethereal beauty and mermaid-blonde look set her apart. She embodied a softer, high-fashion Hollywood glamour that made her an 80s IT girl both on-screen and off.

• Rebecca De Mornay (Film and pop culture icon, 1983–1989) – Rising to fame with Risky Business and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, De Mornay embodied the sultry, confident edge of 80s cinema. Her cool intensity and memorable screen presence made her an unmistakable IT girl of the decade.

• Diane Lane (Film and fashion icon, 1980–1989) – A critical and style favorite throughout the decade, Lane became an 80s IT girl through films like The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, and Streets of Fire. Her effortless beauty, moody cool, and high-fashion appeal made her a muse for photographers and designers and a standout of the era’s cinematic style.

  
  

One movie plus constant replay was often enough to cement their IT girl status.

Television: Reruns Created Timeless IT Girls

Barbara Eden in I Dream of Jeanie

Cable television blurred generational lines, turning characters from earlier decades into defining faces of the 1980s.

• Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie) – A 1960s star who became an ’80s icon through nonstop reruns.

• Tina Louise (Gilligan’s Island) – Glamour preserved by repetition.

• Dawn Wells (Gilligan’s Island) – As Mary Ann Howell, Wells embodied the ultimate “girl next door,” becoming an enduring ’80s pop-culture favorite.

• Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch) – As Marsha Brady, McCormick became a cultural ideal; WTBS reruns made her unavoidable in the 1980s.

• Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman) – Though the show debuted in the late ’70s, reruns kept her iconic throughout the ’80s.

• Farrah Fawcett (Charlie's Angels, 1976–1980) – Although the show started in the late ’70s, constant reruns on cable made her the ultimate ’80s icon. Her feathered hair, athletic chic, and irresistible charm made her a cultural touchstone. Fawcett exemplified the crossover of glamour, television visibility, and pop culture presence that defined IT girls of the era.

• Jaclyn Smith (Charlie's Angels, 1976–1981) – Smith’s elegant style and enduring beauty kept her on the radar of fashion magazines and TV viewers alike, making her a recurring IT girl through the early 1980s.

• Kate Jackson (Charlie's Angels, 1976–1980) – The “brains” of the Angels, Jackson combined smarts, style, and charisma, ensuring she stayed a recognizable figure in cable reruns and 1980s pop culture references.

• Suzanne Somers (Three’s Company, 1977–1981) – Somers became a household name in the late ’70s, but cable reruns and ongoing media exposure in the 1980s cemented her status as an IT girl. Her combination of charm, comedic timing, and iconic fashion made her a recurring presence in pop culture.

• Erin Gray (Buck Rogers in the 25th Century) – Sci-fi cool perfectly suited to the cable era.

These weren’t just reruns—they were cultural reinforcement loops.

Original 1980s Television Shows and Their IT Girls

Catherine Bach as Daisy Duke

The 1980s weren’t without their own original television shows, and with them came more IT girls:

• Lisa Bonet (The Cosby Show) – As Denise Huxtable, Bonet became the face of cool, bohemian style for teens and young adults.

• Alyssa Milano (Who’s the Boss?, 1984–1992) – As Samantha, a fashion-forward teen beloved by audiences.

• Tiffani-Amber Thiessen (Saved by the Bell, 1989–1993) – Became the ultimate teen fashion and style icon as Kelly Kapowski.

• Valerie Bertinelli (One Day at a Time, 1975–1984) – Though the show began in the ’70s, her 1980s seasons kept her a teen and style idol.

• Nicole Eggert (Charles in Charge) – Jamie Powell, teen TV icon and fashion figure..

• Heather Thomas (The Fall Guy, 1981–1986) – As Jody Banks, Thomas became a television style icon. Her blend of professional polish and casual 1980s flair made her a trendsetter, while consistent visibility on prime-time TV and magazine covers turned her into a bona fide IT girl. Glamorous yet relatable, Thomas exemplified the kind of 1980s television star whose repeated appearances cemented her cultural presence.

• Catherine Bach (The Dukes of Hazzard, 1979–1985) – Best known as Daisy Duke, Bach’s style and charisma became instantly recognizable. Her signature denim shorts inspired the term “Daisy Dukes” and made her a fashion and television icon of the 1980s, amplified by reruns and media coverage.

• Heather Locklear (Television and fashion icon, 1981–1989) – Best known for her roles on Dynasty and Melrose Place, Locklear became a defining IT girl of 1980s television. Her blonde bombshell beauty, confident on-screen presence, and status as a primetime staple made her a symbol of glamorous, aspirational 80s style.

• Loni Anderson (Television star and sex symbol, 1978–1986) – Best known as Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati, Anderson became one of the most recognizable IT girls of the late 70s and early 80s. Her glamorous bombshell image, sharp wit, and high-profile media presence made her a defining figure of the era’s television and pop culture landscape.

• Lisa Whelchel (The Facts of Life, 1979–1988) – As Blair Warner, Whelchel became one of the most recognizable teen IT girls of the 1980s. Her preppy fashion, wealthy-girl confidence, and evolving maturity made Blair a style and pop culture fixture through years of reruns and media attention.

• Nancy McKeon (The Facts of Life, 1980–1988) – Playing Jo Polniaczek, McKeon brought a tougher, street-smart edge to 80s television. Her tomboy style, strong personality, and relatable attitude made her an IT girl for audiences drawn to confident, independent female characters.

  
  

Modeling: When Models Became Mainstream Celebrities

Paulina Porizkova Poster

The 1980s were also the decade when models crossed fully into pop culture icons:

• Cindy Crawford – Instantly recognizable, everywhere at once.

• Christie Brinkley – Sports Illustrated, commercials, television—inescapable.

• Elle Macpherson – “The Body,” a nickname that defined excess and fame.

• Brooke Shields – Seamlessly bridging modeling, movies, and television. Nothing came between her and her Calvins.

• Tawny Kitaen – Glamour and music video crossover presence; did more to sell a Jaguar than maybe anyone in history.

• Paulina Porizkova – Striking features, poise, and crossover appeal in fashion, commercials, and film made her a mainstream IT girl, blending modeling glamour with everyday pop culture visibility.

• Kathy Ireland (Supermodel and fashion icon) – As one of the most recognizable models of the decade, Ireland rose to fame through her iconic Sports Illustrated swimsuit covers. Her all-American beauty and athletic appeal helped define 1980s fashion and pop culture.

• Carol Alt (Supermodel and fashion icon, 1982–1989) – One of the original supermodels, Alt dominated 1980s fashion with her all-American beauty, athletic look, and strong runway presence. Her appearances in Sports Illustrated, major fashion campaigns, and film roles made her a defining IT girl of the decade’s high-glam, high-fashion era.

• Kim Alexis (Supermodel and fitness icon, 1982–1989) – As one of the most recognizable supermodels of the 1980s, Alexis became an IT girl through her Sports Illustrated swimsuit covers, athletic build, and wholesome yet glamorous image. Her crossover into fitness and television helped define the era’s ideal of healthy, confident beauty.

• Vanessa Williams (Music, film, and fashion icon, 1983–1989) – Rising to prominence as the first Black Miss America and later as a successful recording artist and actress, Williams became an 80s IT girl through her elegance, versatility, and crossover appeal. Her hit music career, striking beauty, and growing presence in film and television made her a defining figure of late-80s pop culture and style.

  
  

Models weren’t just in magazines—they were part of daily media life, visible on TV, billboards, and music videos—just like the decade’s music and television stars.

Why the 1980s IT Girl Was Different

What made the 1980s unique wasn’t just talent—it was technology and repetition:

• Cable TV meant constant reruns.

• MTV meant image-driven stardom.

• VHS meant endless rewatching.

Together, they ensured that once someone became an IT girl, she stayed one.

You didn’t need to debut in the 1980s to belong to the 1980s. You just needed to be seen—again and again.

Final Thought

The IT girls of the 1980s were a mix of new stars and rediscovered icons, unified by exposure rather than era. Whether they came from music videos, blockbuster films, sitcom reruns, or magazine covers, they shaped a decade that never stopped watching.

The 1980s didn’t invent the IT girl—but cable, MTV, and VHS perfected her.