NYLON's Newest Stars Are Bringing Style Back To Snacking

On a breezy August morning that feels more full-force fall than dog days of summer, the NYLON team gathered at a stripped-down NYC studio to shoot the latest installment in our It Girl franchise. For decades, the series has profiled scene queens, trendsetters, and influencers of the moment — and although they aren’t your typical tastemakers, today’s subjects are no exception.

When they arrive on set, these stars don’t bring the standard entourage. There’s no manager to hover over our photographer’s shoulder, no makeup artist to do touch ups between shots, and no mile-long rider for their green room essentials. They aren’t models (although they certainly play the part when the camera comes out), they don’t dabble in the DJ scene, and they haven’t amassed a following from posting DIML videos. Instead, they’re generation-spanning icons who’ve secured VIP status in grocery store aisles and kitchen pantries for decades — without ever having to sell out. Yes, you guessed it: they’re Hostess® snacks.

Despite living rent-free in America’s consciousness for the past 100 years, Hostess isn’t a brand that’s afraid to change with the times. That’s why Twinkies® snack, Cupcakes Minis, and Donettes® snack were obvious choices for the NYLON treatment. Equal parts enduring classic and viral sensation, these mouthwatering mainstays are officially stepping into the spotlight after a century of serving snack.

Below, learn what makes each one a quintessential NYLON It Girl — and explore what happens when the snack drawer turns into a full-on aesthetic.

Twinkies

She’s rich, timeless, and manages to live out loud while still somehow remaining understated. She’s Twinkies, and she’s perfectly content to sit back on her legendary status. This culture maven serves on multiple museum boards and lives in an uptown pre-war penthouse — but she’s not annoying about it. Her bag costs more than your rent and her lipstick was picked up at a pharmacy during her last trip to France, but don’t worry, she always shares with anyone who needs a touch up.

A sweet and soft sponge cake foundation keeps her grounded, and her crave-able crème filling captures old-school cool like no other. Twinkies is star power personified, offering a taste of legacy with every bite.

Cupcakes Minis

For Cupcakes Minis, the Y2K renaissance isn’t a trend — it’s a way of life. A little futuristic but with deep roots in nostalgia, she leans into her party-girl persona with confidence and a hint of rebellion. The bartender at her local dive doesn’t just know her order — he knows her whole life story. She’s quick to snap a candid pic with her signature digital camera on girls’ night out, but don’t be surprised if it makes an appearance in her next Bushwick art show.

Her perfectly poppable shape calls back to an era of baby tees and micro sunglasses, while her white frosting twist makes us yearn for the landline phones and scrunched ringlets that we never truly moved on from.

Donettes

What came first, the boss babe or Donettes? The world may never know, but with an abundance of HBIC energy and a pint-sized power stance, Donettes is redefining the breakfast meeting for a new generation of leaders. 9 to 5 has nothing on her work ethic, with midnight conference calls and wee-hour workout classes just another excuse to stay on the grind.

Donettes brings a dose of levity to every negotiation, and her perfect close rate proves that her go-to stiletto mules aren’t the only thing about her that’s killer. She’s never met a glass ceiling she can’t shatter and yet, her playful powdery spirit prevails.