Current:Home > StocksFrom NASA and the White House, to JLo and Kim Kardashian, everyone is getting very demure -MacroWatch
From NASA and the White House, to JLo and Kim Kardashian, everyone is getting very demure
View
Date:2025-04-17 09:35:12
Are you demure? Mindful? Cutesy? How about your favorite brand or public figure?
The internet's newest buzzword has permeated every corner of the digital landscape since the beginning of August, something you may have noticed if you've spent any amount of time on social media in recent weeks.
TikTok personality Jools Lebron sparked the trend with a single, now hyper-viral TikTok video that had 36 million views and counting as of Tuesday.
"You see how I do my makeup at work? Very demure, very mindful," Lebron says in the video. "I don't look like a clown when I go to work. I don't do too much. I'm very mindful while I'm at work. See how I look very presentable? The way that I came to the interview is the way I go to the job."
What exactly does that mean? According to Merriam-Webster, "demure" means affectedly modest, reserved, or serious, even coy. Oxford says it's usually a term used to refer to reserved, modest, and shy women or clothing that gives a modest appearance.
As far as the internet is concerned? It's an attitude, an aura, a lifestyle. Lebron, who is a trans woman, previously clarified that she wasn't the first to use the term in popular internet culture, saying it is often used playfully in the transgender community online.
But her use of it is what sparked the internet firestorm that has taken over popular vernacular. Since posting the original video on Aug. 8, followed by videos describing more instances in which viewers may act more "demure," Lebron has been tapped to partner with brands from makeup to drink companies, even appearing on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" alongside RuPaul.
And, like any colloquialism popularized by an internet trend, celebs, brands and even the the president himself have begun to cash in on the sensation.
From the doughnuts to NASA, brands cash in on "demure"
You'd likely expect fashion and beauty brands to hop at the chance to include a phrase typically associated with these industries in advertising − but what about airlines, doughnuts and even NASA?
United Airlines used audio from a follow-up video in which Lebron describes how to behave on a plane, saying, "See how I line up for the plane? Very demure, I don't rush, I take my spot, I don't intrude," it says. The airline paired the sound with a video of a woman preparing to board a United flight.
Perhaps more impressively, the White House itself decided to hop on the trend, posting a picture of a smiling Joe Biden to Instagram with the caption "Cancelling the student debt of nearly 5 million Americans through various actions. Very mindful. Very demure."
It doesn't stop there. The drink brand Synergy had Lebron come on scene to film promotions for them, alongside other brands like KVD Beauty and Verzon that tapped her as a brand partner or rep.
Big-time celebs likewise hopped on the trend to promote their own businesses. J-Lo posted to Instagram promoting her beverage line Delola, explaining how she enjoys her drinks in a "demure" way accompanied by the caption "very demure....very mindful."
Kim Kardashian also shared images from a recent shoot to promote her Skims line, again using the phrase in the caption. "See how I take my bts pictures....very cutsie, very mindful, very demure," it says.
Perhaps a bit more unexpected? Dunkin labeled its classic glazed doughnut as "demure" and "mindful," while Hello Kitty simply wished her fans a "demure, mindful and cutesy" week.
Maybe the most interesting use of the trend? NASA sharing images of Saturn's rings, which it called: "Very demure. Very cutesy. Very mindful." Who knew planets were interested in keeping up with the latest trends?
It may have become abundantly clear at this point − if you're spending any time online, it's going to be hard to ignore the internet's desire to be very demure, very mindful, very cutesy.
veryGood! (936)
Related
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Jurors can’t be replaced once deliberations begin, North Carolina appeals court rules
- Lionel Messi will start in Inter Miami's MLS season opener: How to watch Wednesday's match
- Abraham Lincoln pardoned Biden's great-great-grandfather after Civil War-era brawl, documents reportedly show
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale's Son Apollo Is All Grown Up at Disco-Themed 10th Birthday Party
- Disney Channel Alum Bridgit Mendler Reveals She's a Mom—and a Space Startup CEO
- Is the stock market open or closed on Presidents Day 2024? See full holiday schedule
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Alexey Navalny's widow says Russia hiding his body, refusing to give it to his mother
Ranking
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- CM Punk gives timeline on return from injury, says he was going to headline WrestleMania
- Shohei Ohtani hits home run in first live spring training batting practice with Dodgers
- Daytona 500 complete results, finishing order as William Byron wins 2024 NASCAR opener
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Jon Stewart shrugs off backlash for Joe Biden criticism during his 'Daily Show' return
- Los Angeles Angels 3B Anthony Rendon: '[Baseball]'s never been a top priority for me.'
- Savannah Guthrie reveals this was 'the hardest' topic to write about in her book on faith
Recommendation
$73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
Mississippi grand jury decides not to indict ex-NFL player Jerrell Powe on kidnapping charge
Vermont governor seeks disaster declaration for December flooding
Russia says dual national California woman arrested over suspected treason for helping Ukraine's armed forces
The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
Body of New Hampshire Marine killed in helicopter crash comes home
More than 400 detained in Russia as country mourns the death of Alexey Navalny
Jon Stewart shrugs off backlash for Joe Biden criticism during his 'Daily Show' return