Web Culture
It isnt just a soda.
Its a way of life.
For some, Diet Coke isnt just a soda.
Its a personality trait.
A way of life one that even borders on a religious experience.
Herring estimates she was allowed her first taste at age 10 and its been a true obsession ever since.
I want to wake up and take that first sip, she tells Bustle.
It gives me the energy I need.
But a refreshing jolt isnt the only thing that has Diet Coke girls gathering en masse.
It’s not the mass Coke, she says.
It comes in a silver can, and it’s just… edgy.
You Cant Sip With Us
Many DC girls bond over their shared obsession.
Every time Im with my friends our first question is, Can we stop for a Diet Coke?
says TikTok creator Kristen Hollingshaus, aka@hauskris.
And many fans also seem to have a lot in common beyond that.
True fans really know their stuff, and thats because they rarely have just one can a day.
If Ineed a little treat, Ill get a Diet Coke.
It’s like a Target run, but better.
First, shell let her can marinate for a few days in the fridge to ensure its perfectly frosty.
For extra oomph, shell artfully drink through a glass straw.
The burn or intense tingle of carbonation is something many DC stans rave about.
But for the initiated, it all makes perfect sense.
Its all about the flavor, says Herring, adding the other drinks just dont do it for her.
I would drink regular Coke if it tasted like Diet Coke, but it just doesnt.
For some, its the bubbly sting.
For others, the memories attached to it keep them coming back for more.
I still remember the first time I drank Diet Coke, says Hollingshaus.
I even worked at a soda shop in college because I love it that much.
But one thing they dont joke about is their fave beverage.
The obsession may sound extreme, but thats OK.
The girls who get it, get it.
And the girls who dont, dont.
