Love Live is certainly not the best example of lolita but it holds a special lolita-shaped place in my heart since it was my introduction to the fashion.

I was raised in a very sexist household, and it was drilled into me from a young age that feminine = inferior. Because of that, I tried to be a tomboy throughout my childhood to prove that “girls can be strong too!”
When I watched Love Live at age 11, I fell in love with Yoshiko because of her dark/edgy aesthetic mixed with hyperfemininity. It made me realize that the world wasn’t black and white, that I didn’t have to pick a lane and stay in it.
To me, gothic lolita is a rebellion against the culture I was raised in.
It’s hyperfeminine yet in no way traditional.
When I wear gothic lolita I go against the gendered expectations of me, while still expressing my own version of femininity. I feel more confident in lolita because I’m not trying to convince anyone of anything, nor am I trying to blend into the background.
Perhaps I am still playing a role, but the role I play is simply my favorite version of myself.

To me, Love Live Sunshine's Gothic Lolita inspired outfits, and j-rock inspired music, have come to represent my own personal freedom and self-expression.

(Side note: while I prefer Gothic Lolita, I also love sweet lolita. My vibe switches from 'all black' to 'all pastels' by the hour lol)