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Style June 21, 2017
We've all heard of fleek, but few actually get it.
What does fleek mean? How do we use it? Is it even relevant anymore?
If you’re wondering the answers to any of these, then you’ve come to the right place. Let ENTITY break it down for you.
To say something is “on fleek” essentially means that it is the pinnacle of perfection.
It’s a style, swagger, and overall way of being that prompts a double take and a jaw drop. It’s typically in reference to aesthetic style. This can include makeup, eyebrows, an outfit – what have you.
Whatever the manifestation of fabulous may be, being on fleek means having a look that others aspire.
So basically Beyoncé is the epitome. Enough said.
The origin of the word is likely to have occurred long before it hit the web. In any case, the first public posting of the word didn’t occur until 2003 on Urban Dictionary.
However, this phrase blew up after the six-second spiel on Vine. In preparation of going out, Peaches Monroe tells us all how her eyebrows are “on fleek.”
And so it was born.
“On point” retires from its slang pedestal and makes way for the new “it” word, so to speak.
In short, yes we did. On behalf of well-meaning white America (can we say that?), apologies to all the graves assigned to things we didn’t create but took credit for when they became “trendy.”
Basically, here lies an apology for cultural appropriation in its many forms.
Like most slang, this phrase was started in the black community, and white people swept it up and took it over. The argument that this is where “cool” things go to die can also be applied to, “bae,” “turn up,” “squad” and we could go on.
Similar to other slang terms or phrases that become mainstream, they get played out. The honeymoon phase is over. We hear them all the time and they’re not funny anymore. In fact, they become annoying.
A phrase that used to make you crack a smile or say it with conviction now summons little more than an eye-roll.
See what we mean?
If you ask the Internet, anything from food to broad concepts can be “on fleek.” And we wonder why “fleek” seems to make no sense…
While this little guy may be adorable, he is an example of fleek misuse at its finest. In addition, no your pizza is not on fleek. Your ambition, positivity and any randomly inserted nouns are not on fleek.
In essence, anything that goes beyond the original purpose of describing style is not on fleek.
Once a popular phrase is used incorrectly time and time again it becomes flat out confusing. Then ultimately, it becomes irrelevant altogether.
It is well known that trends, in general, have a short life span, and fleek is no exception.
But for those who use #insert-popular-slang-here on every Instagram or Twitter post, you’re part of the problem.
Using big words to sound smart doesn’t work in the wrong context. In the same way, when used incorrectly slang doesn’t make you sound cool.
There will be judgment using slang regardless, but at least it will make sense.
And if we’re talking about slang we all need to give a huge shoutout to the black community. It needs to be recognized that African Americans play a huge role in popular culture.
Thank you, Black Twitter.
Above all, appreciation is different than appropriation. Basically, we can have love for someone else’s idea without claiming it as our own.
All trends come and go.
Will “on fleek” be missed? Well as of right now, that’s up for debate.