Finding safety, friendship at ATX Hot Girl Walk

It's been nearly six months since Austin newcomer Maddie Scales organized her first Hot Girl Walk on the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.

Now — 21 walks later — the group is still going strong, and Scales has seen as many as 45 women show up for the weekly walk on Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

Catch up quick: The Hot Girl Walk, coined by Mia Lind on TikTok in 2021, quickly became a popular form of exercise, especially among Gen Z and millennials.

• A hot girl walk typically consists of a 3- to 4-mile walk, with a few essentials — think curated playlist and earbuds (if you’re going solo), a water bottle, a workout set and a safe environment.
• As Lind explained in a TikTok, everyone should think of three things during an HGW: What you’re grateful for, your goals (and how you’ll achieve them) and how hot you are (which is basically Gen Z speak for body positivity and self-acceptance).
• Hot Girl Walks have grown in popularity across the country and in Texas — with groups in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

What they're saying: Scales, 25, works in social media marketing and noticed walks popping up around the country. She quickly jumped on the hotgirlwalkaustin Instagram handle and planned her first walk.

• Each walk averages around 25-35 women. LGBTQ+ and non-binary walkers are welcome.

• "A Hot Girl Walk to me is an intentionally planned time to celebrate your body through movement and feeling confident while doing so," Scales tells Axios. "The club is a safe space to do that together, while building community."

What's next: The group meets Wednesday at 6:30pm at the trail entrance near Thom's Market on Riverside for a Galentine's-themed walk with special giveaways.

The bottom line: "It’s a really great environment for people to meet friends while being active," Scales added. "Something about walking and talking makes the process of meeting strangers less awkward."