Popular female in east holds it as eternal (8)
I believe the answer is:
infinite
'eternal' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'popular female in east holds it' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'east' becomes 'e' (synonyms).
'holds' is an insertion indicator.
'in'+'e'='ine'
'ine' placed around 'it' is 'inite'.
'in'+'f'+'inite'='INFINITE'
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for infinite that I've seen before include "Unrestricted" , "Endless" , "Limitless in extent" , "Unlimited" , "Boundless" .)