Gigi The Summer I Turned Pretty

Okay, let’s be real for a second. We need to talk about Gigi from The Summer I Turned Pretty. You know, the girl who showed up like a plot twist you didn’t ask for?

She’s basically the human equivalent of a sunburn. A little annoying, totally unexpected, but also impossible to ignore. And I have so many feelings about her.

Who even is Gigi?

If you blinked, you might have missed her backstory. She’s Cam’s ex-girlfriend, and she rolls into Cousins Beach like she owns the place. Like, excuse me, ma’am, did you get the memo? This is Belly’s summer.

Gigi is confident, cool, and she wears her hair like she just stepped off a yacht. She’s the kind of girl who probably never cries in public. Meanwhile, I’m crying over a frozen yogurt topper.

The threat she posed (or didn't)

At first, we all panicked. Was Gigi going to steal Cam away? Was she going to ruin Belly’s first real romance? I was ready to fight her through my TV screen.

But here’s the thing: Gigi wasn’t really a villain. She was more like a speed bump. She slowed things down just enough for Belly to realize what she really wanted. And honestly? That’s kind of genius.

She wasn’t manipulative. She wasn’t mean. She was just there, existing in her perfect little bubble. And for a show that loves dramatic confrontations, that felt refreshingly real.

Why Gigi actually matters

Let’s be honest: Gigi is the friend we all need. Not the one who steals your guy, but the one who accidentally shows you the truth. She made Belly ask, “Do I even like Cam, or do I just like the idea of him?”

And that’s a huge question. Gigi basically held up a mirror to Belly’s chaotic love life. And Belly looked, blinked, and realized she was still obsessed with Conrad. Oops.

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Without Gigi, we might have gotten a whole season of Belly and Cam being cute and boring. She saved us from that fate. So maybe we should thank her?

The humor in her hustle

Can we talk about how Gigi is weirdly hilarious? She shows up, makes a comment about the volleyball game, and then just disappears. It’s like she knew she was a side character in Belly’s story and she was totally fine with it.

She even tells Belly, “I’m not here to steal your boyfriend.” Iconic. That level of self-awareness is rare. Most people in love triangles pretend they have no idea what’s happening. Gigi knew exactly what was happening.

She was like a vacation rental: you don’t really want her there, but she makes the trip more interesting. And she leaves no trace when she’s gone.

The real tea: Did we hate her?

I think we wanted to hate her. I mean, she’s gorgeous, she plays volleyball, and she dated Cam first. That’s a trifecta of annoyance. But she never did anything truly terrible.

She didn’t sabotage Belly. She didn’t spread rumors. She just showed up, played a few scenes, and peaced out. Compare that to other TV exes? Gigi is practically a saint.

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So maybe the real question isn’t “Why is Gigi here?” but “Why aren’t we more like Gigi?” She knows her worth. She doesn’t grovel. She just exists, unbothered.

The best part about her exit

When Gigi leaves, it’s almost anticlimactic. And that’s perfect. No dramatic airport scene. No crying in the rain. She just drives off, probably listening to a great playlist.

It’s so fitting. Because Gigi was never the main event. She was the warm-up act. She got the crowd ready for the real drama: Belly stuck between two brothers again.

And let’s be real, if Gigi had stuck around, she would have overpowered the whole vibe. The show is about messy, emotional, slightly annoying teens. Gigi is too put-together for that chaos.

Final verdict: Gigi is underrated

I’m going to say it: Gigi is one of the most underrated characters in the whole show. She’s a plot device with a pulse. She’s a reminder that not every ex is a monster.

Sometimes an ex is just a nice person who happens to have good hair and a solid serve. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s kind of refreshing.

So next time you rewatch season one, don’t roll your eyes at Gigi. Give her a little salute. She did the job. She made Belly think. And then she got out of the way. That’s a true summer hero if you ask me.