Fortesa Latifi’s Jeans Aren’t Really Jeans

HAWT SEAT #2 feat. a leading expert on the insane world of family vlogging

Mar 03, 2026

Welcome to HAWT SEAT, a guest feature in the likeness of my monthly repeats letters. Today’s celeb columnist: Fortesa Latifi.

You may have read Fortesa in outlets like The New York Times or The Cut, listened to her on NPR or like Sounds Like a Cult, or know her through her newsletter. Or maybe it’s from that time she chronicled her ketamine therapy for Refinery29?

Fortesa’s first book, “Like, Comment, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online” comes out in April (I actually contributed research to the book, so having already read it, I can confirm that it’s brilliant). Fortesa, tell us what’s been on repeat for you lately…

dedicated to her daughter, i cry every time

One Line a Day journal

As a writer, I’ve always wanted to be good at journaling but… I’m just not. I’ve never found a journaling practice I could stick with until I started this one-line-a-day journal back in 2021.

It’s exactly what it sounds like: each day, you write a single line about what happened during your day or what you’re feeling or thinking about. I’m now in my fifth year of using this journal and I love looking back and seeing all these small life moments that I would’ve totally forgotten if I hadn’t written them down.

Rag and Bone sweatpant jeans

Unlike the queen of Yeehawt, I am not a jeans enthusiast. I actually hate wearing jeans. Even the best pairs make me feel so uncomfortable. But a few months ago, my sisters introduced me to the Rag & Bone sweatpant jeans and my life changed forever.

These “jeans” look like you’re wearing jeans but feel like you’re wearing sweatpants. I now have them in two washes and wear them constantly. Highly recommend for any sensory-sensitive girlies like me!

A pocket-size pill organizer

For some reason, I love this tiny little pocket-size pill organizer so much. I used to just have this huge Ziploc bag full of pill bottles that I’d sort through when I needed something, which was… not the best organizational tool. My husband bought me this and I love it. I also think it’s kind of cute which helps with any weird feelings around medication.

Kindle

I am a voracious reader and I don’t say that to brag — I think there’s something about my psyche that I don’t truly want to delve into that makes me have to constantly have something to read.

As of the end of February, I’ve read 19 books so far this year and my Kindle is a big part of why. It’s just so easy. I can grab it and put it in my purse or if I don’t have it on me, I can read on the Kindle app on my phone. Also, I borrow almost every book I read from the public library app Libby1.

Going to the beach

Sometimes I’m like “wow, my rent in LA is obscene,” and then sometimes I’m like “my rent in LA is obscene, but I get to go to the beach even in February.”

Even if we don’t go swimming, there’s something so grounding and lovely about going to the beach (especially because my toddler gets so psyched about it). Even if you don’t live near the beach, this rec can be broader than the beach: just go do whatever makes it worth it to live where you do.

Brick

If you’re anything like me, you’re worried about your screentime. There are so many possible ways to reduce your screentime, but the one that I’ve really stuck with is Brick. (I wrote about it here.)

It effectively blocks me from all social media on my phone minus a few hours during the work day (because I’m an online culture journalist and lots of my work takes place… on social media) and it’s totally changed my life. Highly recommend!

Love Is Blind Season 10

I’m not generally a reality TV person, but for some reason, “Love Is Blind” gets me every time. It’s just so sociologically rich. My favorite way to unwind right now is to watch the latest LIB episodes while scrolling through the discussion threads on Reddit.

Staring at my book

My book “Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online” is coming out in April and I am… freaking out, to put it lightly. Its publication kind of feels like sending my baby out into the world and hoping people are nice to her. But sometimes, to soothe myself, I just look at my book and let myself feel proud.

I sold the book when I was 7 months pregnant and turned in the first draft at 7 months postpartum. It was both the most challenging and most fun thing I’ve ever done professionally in my life.

Keep up with Fortesa on IG, TT, and Substack, keep an ear out for her coming up on one of your favorite podcasts (no spoilers), and pre-order her book here.