Girls calling each other cute?

I was wondering, in japanese culture/custom, is it common for girls/female friends to refer to each other as cute in a non-romantic sense? I heard that this was common and all,but I wanted to know how accurate this is.

Kawaii........In my university, Japanese students always tell kawaii kawaii
You also can say rikouna

I mean like girls calling/refering to each other as cute like in HS?

Especially young Japanese women often say they are cute to each other.
Some women exaggerate that they are cute, but most of the time they don't think it...
It's flattering words.

The hue of "kawaii" is being changing gradually.
The meaning of that was almost same with cute about from tens of years before.

Recently my daughter called my colored necktie kawaii.

But after that, she called a small pig in TV kawaii.

Girls' "kawaii" means good.
"Me-cha kawaii (very kawaii)" means good+.
"Cho kawaii (very very kawaii)" means good++.
"Kawaii" doesn't always mean "cute." And they don't THINK each other are cute. They are only talking about their belongings. BECAUSE THEY ARE GIRLS.
As boys use "cool" in English.

Really, I was told that it is not uncommon for girls to think the other/call the other cute, not just belongings and it not mean anything romantic. Is that true?

I have a daughter who is 13 years old and she often says kawaii to what she consider as cute.
This cuteness can refer to a person, an item, a nonhumans such as animals.
It is related to charming, vulnerable, shy, and childlike.

It has nothing to do with romantic, sexual.
No only young girls are saying it but even adults. Just turn on the TV and you will hear often kawaii.
Even guys can say kawaii.