What must it feel like to get swept up in a tornado? Hope Walz has a pretty good idea. When her father, Minnesota governor Tim Walz, was chosen as Kamala Harris’s vice presidential running mate in August, Hope and her family, including brother Gus and mom Gwen, were thrust into the national spotlight overnight.
While Gwen, an educator, hit the campaign trail on behalf of her husband, and Gus sparked a viral moment and fiery news cycle at the Democratic National Convention for ::checks notes:: displaying loving affection for his father, Hope played the role of dutiful eldest daughter to a tee.
How do we know? Because she started documenting it all on TikTok.
Here was the 23-year-old social worker and ski instructor hitting a Pilates class before a day of campaigning. In another, she jumps on the trend of joking about “canceling out” her father’s vote.
After the election, Walz continued posting, this time processing her feelings about the outcome in real-time. While many tuned out completely in frustration, disgust, and hopelessness, Walz did the opposite.
As Teen Vogue put it, she used the platform “to model something radically different: a permission slip to feel, grieve, and then, when the time is right, get back to work.”
In time, she began sprinkling in more typical Gen Z fare—’fit checks and GRWMs—alongside calls to action to stay engaged.
After a video about her friends’ red flags, I risked a DM. Would she share some of her hard-won wisdom with the Style Girlfriend community?
The almost-second daughter got back to me in a few hours.
In the mad dash toward the holidays, our calendars didn’t align for a phone call, so I emailed her my questions, and the Montana State grad got back to me with thoughtful answers in a properly-spaced PDF doc worthy of an A+ essay.
Below, Hope Walz on personal style, social media etiquette, and what’s keeping her hopeful after ::flails arms:: all this.
@hopewalz wait for tim cameo!!! midwestern parents 🤝 handmade ornaments from 15 years ago ,,, anyways happy holidays merry xmas hope you all find so much peace 🤎 #christmas #dad #parentsoftiktok ♬ original sound – hopewalz
My first question: What is it like to date without daddy issues?
You seem very secure in who you are, and confident in your self-worth, which is awesome. I’m curious if that’s something you’re generally aware of/have worked at, and if it means you’re less likely to put up with dud dating situations.
Growing up with a positive male figure has shown me what a man can and realistically should be. It’s taken time but as I’ve grown, having that positive male role model in my life has allowed me to seek out what’s important to me with no shame.
I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on myself and my confidence which has set me up for the healthy relationship I’m in today. I am very aware of myself and what I want which has allowed me to move past certain relationships or situations that don’t serve me in the ways I would like.
@hopewalz boyfriend reveal hehe🤎 #datenight #boyfriend #hehe ♬ original sound – hopewalz
You recently introduced your boyfriend to your TikTok followers. What’s your take on the soft vs hard launch of a significant other on social media?
I was initially excited about a long soft launch until I saw a video made by Eli Rallo, she said she didn’t like the soft launch and just wished everybody would get it over with and hard launch their relationships.
Honestly, it spoke to me.
It made me realize that I’m not special and should just get over myself and post about my relationship unapologetically and openly. I was originally soft launching to protect my current partner, but after a couple of conversations and the realization that being with me inherently brings up things, I decided to just hard launch.
Of course, everybody should make their own decisions and do what’s best for their relationship; this is just what worked for me! Both are fun 🙂
The old adage of “Three things not to discuss at the dinner table: politics, money, and religion” doesn’t really hold up anymore. How do you approach conversations with people who may have wildly different views than you?
I think we all have more in common than things that separate us, even if we don’t realize it. It’s all about finding common ground, even if it’s over something small.
I will add that if somebody is actively supporting your oppression or the oppression of people you care about, I don’t think you should be expected to give them any of your time or attention.
I’m in a unique position and feel like I can have some of these conversations, and that’s actually why I started posting on my socials. I feel as if I can be a positive voice in a strange time.
In a world that is incredibly divided, I think we can all have a little bit more compassion and when we lead with that these hard conversations are a little bit easier.
@hopewalz fun hats, confidence, and my inability to get embarrassed chatty?! #mentalhealth #hats #confidence ♬ original sound – hopewalz
You love a “fun hat” and sharing ootd/fit checks. What does personal style mean to you?
I think personal style is as listed, personal! It’s a great way to express yourself and show the world a little bit of what’s on the inside 🙂 I’ve always said I don’t fit into any one aesthetic or category and I think my style shows that, for better or for worse.
We live in a time where certain aesthetics constantly trend, and I think taking what’s fun from those and leaving the rest to curate what sustainably fits into who you are is so fun, so cool.
“Style” is so much more than the clothes you wear, but how you wear them and the way you present yourself in them.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the past couple of years figuring out what I care about and what matters to me and I think that shows in my style.
There is nothing more fun than putting on an outfit that speaks to who you are!
@hopewalz what i got my boyfriend for christmas hehe #christmas #boyfriend #gift ♬ original sound – hopewalz
What do you like best about your boyfriend’s style? (is it the mullet?)
I do love the mullet. That was a big win for me honestly.
He also loves a “fun hat” which I can appreciate. He is a pretty large guy but owns an impressive selection of oversized t-shirts. Like cool, vintage-looking ones. I’m pretty picky with what I wear and I find myself reaching for those quite often.
Overall though, I think his confidence is what makes whatever he wears and does work.
It’s what first drew me to him and continues to inspire me in that way. I’m more confident in myself and my style because of him and the way he carries himself in the day-to-day.
@hopewalz slowly learning to exsist on the internet lol (SORRY FOR THE “LIKE”) love so many of you cuties💗 #humor #hate ♬ original sound – hopewalz
You’ve pointed out that male trolls usually go straight to attacking a woman’s looks – why do you think that is?
What would you say to the guys whose bios are all about their identity as a father/husband and yet spend time attacking women online in this way?
I think we live in a time where women are building a lot of power for themselves and their communities, and that’s uncomfortable for a lot of people.
Previously (and in some cases currently) women were taught that their only worth was in their looks and their worth to men, which is why I think these men go straight to attacking women’s looks. They assume that is what will get the biggest reaction and hurt the most.
I also think it’s what’s easy. Feeling powerful is all that matters to them in these situations and they know they can’t attack on intellectual grounds so they take the low blow and comment on looks. I think it all stems from insecurity and feelings of inadequacy. I would tell these men to look inward and reflect on the things they are saying. Imagine if somebody was saying this to their wives or daughters.
Fostering this toxic culture, even if not directed at them personally, is harmful to all the women in their lives. You can hate me (or whoever fills in the blank) but you should do all you can to foster a positive future for the women in your lives, they deserve it.
What do you like best about being from the Midwest?
I LOVE the Midwest.
Being from there is truly a part of the fabric of my being. I’ve never known anything other than freezing winters and lake summers and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It is a place where people truly “love thy neighbor” and the culture and communities there have instilled lifelong values of service and kindness in me.
Minnesota Nice is a real thing and to this day, no matter where I am, I hear my mom in my head telling me “Good friend, good learner” before I do anything. Being Midwestern is truly an identity and one I proudly wear!
@hopewalz link in my bio!!! soooo thankful for yall💗 #amazonwishlist #holidays #housing #foodbank ♬ original sound – hopewalz
How are you staying hopeful right now?
I’ll give an example!
I work at a homeless shelter; we call it a “warming center.” The organization I work for is a nonprofit and they posted an Amazon wishlist of things we need to provide the necessary services to our guests. I put the link in my TikTok bio and made a video asking people to purchase things if they were able. After I posted the video people essentially cleared the wishlist in three days. And now a person experiencing homelessness will have a warm pair of socks or a new water bottle.
(Editor’s note: More items have been added to the wishlist at the link above if you’d like to help!)
These ground-level acts are what are going to move us forward and get us through the next couple of years and seeing people rally in the way they did was so refreshing. There are so many good people and so much good work being done and just seeing it being done gives me so much hope going forward.
And finally, how’s Gus? We love Gus.
Gus is good! He’s a senior in high school and getting excited to graduate. He’s a volleyball player and is currently very involved in that, which is so cool to me.
So he’s very much enjoying being an 18-year-old! We’re headed on vacation next month and hopefully, I will be able to post some sibling content 🙂
