7 Reasons Britney Spears Is The Original J. Law

With every year and passing season comes a new "It Girl" of the moment. She whose face seems to cover every magazine and tabloid, she who launches a thousand think pieces, she whose poster is faithfully pasted on every tween's wall until it is ultimately replaced. Such is the cycle of life. Since Jennifer Lawrence's adorkable personality helped her ascended to the status of Hollywood Cool Girl, she's laid claim to the fame, Tumblr worship, and endless fandoms created in her name. It's important to note, however, that before Lawrence claimed her place in the It Girl family line, there was pop star Britney Spears, the one queen to rule us all.

As with Hollywood's long, deeply entrenched line of royalty, past and current It Girls tend to have much in common, but none as much as Jennifer Lawrence and Britney Spears. At first glance, it may not appear that way. Lawrence is a YA action star turned Oscar winner, Spears is a bubblegum pop princess turned slightly older bubblegum pop princess turned sex symbol turned Vegas resident. However, upon closer inspection, it's evident that the It Girl genes run deep, and what makes an It Girl isn't an Oscar or a Grammy; it's the "It" which cannot be named. Spears has it. Lawrence has it. But Spears had it first, and therefore paved the way for Lawrence to exist in the first place.

Jennifer Lawrence may be the Internet's queen of the moment, but here's why Britney Spears was and forever will be the original Jennifer Lawrence.

1. The "Cool Girl" Vibe

Before the existential think pieces on Jennifer Lawrence's representation of the ultimate "cool girl," there was Britney Spears: wearing yellow tinted glasses and beloved by all.

2. America's Sweetheart

Jennifer Lawrence has enjoyed a solid moment as "America's Kickass Sweetheart," but let us not forget our foremothers. Britney Spears was first, and no amount of impulsive head shaving could ever change that.

3. Iconic Red Carpet Moments

Both Jennifer Lawrence and Britney Spears have earned their status as red carpet icons through ample use of on-trend denim and Little Mermaid costume replicas. Still, Spears forever set the standard for how to take denim-on-denim and use it for all it's worth, and for that she remains the original red carpet queen.

4. Relationship Drama

First there Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. Then there was Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Martin. Both highly public relationships, but only one really matters.

5. The Hair

Please sit down, haters. Britney Spears had a rough 2007, but, in shaving off her hair, she also made it cool for Jennifer Lawrence to eventually cut off most of her hair. For an entirely different reason, yes, but still. Respect your elders.

6. The Fame

You might say that Britney Spears paved the way for Jennifer Lawrence's unreal level of fame. For reference, please see "Lucky."

7. The Bodyguard

Britney Spears had a famously massive bodyguard back in the day. Now Jennifer Lawrence has one too, only hotter. Perhaps J. Law should be writing Spears a thank you letter for, you know, her entire life.

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