From Barbiecore to the Bible: Reclaiming the meaning of pink

It’s International Pink Day, and the world is blushing with celebration. (And here at Aleteia, a couple of members of staff are thrilled this beautiful color is getting the attention it rightly deserves. Although, other members of the team aren't quite so joyous as they bathe in their "bland brown"!)

From rose-colored fashion to strawberry-tinted lattes, this cheerful hue is everywhere — and let’s be honest, it is having a moment. Thanks in part to the Barbiecore trend, pink has become the ultimate symbol of fun, flair, and unapologetic femininity.

But somewhere underneath the sequins and sass, there’s a quieter, richer story this color has to tell. Because believe it or not, pink isn’t just the star of toy aisles or fashion blogs. In the Christian tradition, pink — or rose, if we’re being liturgically correct — holds a surprising spiritual weight. And it might just be time we reclaim its meaning.

For many Catholics, pink shows up just twice a year in church: Gaudete Sunday in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent. In the midst of two otherwise penitential seasons, the rose vestments remind us that joy is on the horizon. They’re a visual “lighten up!” — a cue that even in the waiting, there’s beauty and hope.

It’s a joy that isn’t loud or flashy, but quiet and sure. The kind of joy that says, “I trust that God is at work, even when I can’t see the full picture yet.”

Of course, pink is also often linked to femininity — a fact that has caused its fair share of debate. Is it empowering? Stereotyping? Both? But when you peel back the layers, there’s something lovely in the way pink embodies gentleness, warmth, and tenderness — all qualities we’re sometimes told to hide in a tough world.

Yet Scripture is full of these so-called “soft” virtues: kindness, mercy, compassion. In fact, St. Paul tells us to clothe ourselves in them (Colossians 3:12). Maybe pink, in all its forms, is just a gentle nudge to embrace these virtues, not as weaknesses, but as deep spiritual strengths.

In a world that often celebrates being loud, edgy, and assertive, choosing to be joyful, hopeful, or tender can feel … rebellious.

Wearing pink — literally or metaphorically — is a little rebellious. It says, “I still believe in goodness. I still believe in beauty. I still believe in joy.”

So whether you’re sporting a fuchsia scarf, sipping strawberry tea, or simply pausing to admire the sunset’s rosy hues, take a moment this International Pink Day to remember: pink isn’t just pretty. It’s powerful. And in the right light, it might just point us toward heaven.

And don't miss our slideshow of the "pink sisters" -- a contemplative order of nuns in striking pink habits -- below: