The term "fleek," particularly in the phrase "eyebrows on fleek," gained immense popularity in the 2010s, becoming a ubiquitous internet slang term. This article delves into the definition, origin, and cultural impact of "fleek," exploring its journey from a viral Vine video to mainstream usage.
People invent slang terms all the time, but they just almost never catch on, because language is organic and doesn’t like to be forced. The popularization of "on fleek" can be traced back to a 12-second Vine video posted in June 2014 by Kayla Newman, a Chicago teenager known as Peaches Monroee on social media. In the video, she used the phrase "eyebrows on fleek" to describe her perfectly groomed eyebrows before heading out to a party. Let the record state: Your eyebrows were very on fleek, Kayla.
This seemingly simple video went massively viral, catapulting "on fleek" into the internet lexicon. The virality of the video was further amplified when superstar Ariana Grande posted her own Vine "cover" of Newman's video, which helped spread on fleek into the mainstream. As Matt Эллен notes, the road to mass adoption of fleek runs through a Vine mini-video uploaded on June 21, 2014, by Peaches Monroee.
In terms of what it means, it’s actually really easy and hopefully you figured it out for yourself already. But for all you Karen Smith’s out there, on fleek = on point. "On fleek" is essentially a cooler, more contemporary way of saying "on point." It signifies that something is perfect, flawless, well-executed, or aesthetically pleasing. As Bustle describes, "On fleek" means that something is on point, essentially - that something looks good, is perfectly executed, etc. It’s just another way to compliment someone else… or yourself.
When applied to eyebrows, "on fleek" implies that they are perfectly groomed, shaped, and filled in. Fleek - which is a variation of "flick," a word well known to makeup-lovers - is when eyebrows are perfectly groomed, filled, and shaped. Homegirl used her Anastia Beverly Hills Dip brow and her "eyebrows on fleek"by Warriorprincess October 29, 2014Flag.
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Now, we can find some pre-Newman examples of fleek. While Newman's Vine video popularized the term, earlier instances of "fleek" can be found online. Urban Dictionary enters fleek in 2003 “for smooth, nice, sweet” and in 2009 for “awesome,” but Newman says her on fleek was an independent coinage (and flash of genius). The earliest mention I could find of the term was described by People as being listed on Urban Dictionary as early as 2003.
However, these earlier definitions differ from the contemporary usage. For example, one Urban Dictionary entry from 2003 defines "fleek" as "smooth, nice, sweet," while another from 2009 defines it as "awesome." Ultimately, Urban Dictionary is so full of random inventions that it is impossible to tell whether a definition offered eleven years ago that happens to be reasonably close to the current definition of a word spelled the same way has any ancestral connection to the current word. At least with regard to fleek 2003 and fleek today, I'm skeptical.
Aside from a small landslide of post-June 21, 2014 offerings, UD enthusiasts have suggested an array of definitions for fleek over the years. But you'll also see a gaggle of less promising entries on UD. The first thing you may notice about this definition is that it uses fleek as an adjective-not as a noun, and not in tandem with on. The next thing you may notice is that it is not alone.
It's important to note that Newman claims her usage of "on fleek" was an independent coinage, suggesting a separate origin from these earlier definitions.
Since 2014, on fleek has become one of the most popular internet neologisms of the 2010s, even nominated by the American Dialect Society in 2015 in its “Most Likely to Succeed” category. "Fleek" quickly gained traction across various platforms, including sports, fashion, music, and social media. As [L]ast week while attending a B.O.B. concert I was equally confused when an artist from his No Genre label came on stage singing about her eyebrows being on fleek. ‘Fleek’ is quickly gaining traction as the new ‘it’ term in sports, fashion, music and social media.
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Despite the fleeting nature of many internet trends, "on fleek" has demonstrated remarkable staying power. Viral internet content likes to burn out like so many meteors, but on fleek has, delightfully, proved its staying power. The phrase continues to be used in popular culture, showcasing its enduring impact on internet slang.
The popularity of "eyebrows on fleek" also reflects broader trends in the beauty industry, particularly the emphasis on well-defined and groomed eyebrows. Since the moment AnOther Magazine's spring/summer 2011 cover came in, featuring Mia Wasikowska shot David Sims, I've been dedicated to thick brows. The infatuation actually first started when I saw Mariel Hemingway as Tracy in Woody Allen's 1979 film Manhattan. Playing a 17-year-old impressionable girl that Allen's character Isaac Davis is dating, she appears in the film wearing very little make-up, if any. The included photo of Ms. Hemingway from a diner scene in Manhattan shows that her left eyebrow is indeed avec (if not on) flick.
Throughout history, eyebrow trends have varied, from thin and arched to thick and natural. The "on fleek" trend aligns with the contemporary preference for bold, defined eyebrows that enhance facial features. Ms. Seven of Nine from Star Trek Voyager would arc her ocular implant when the occasion required, of course, said implant was always in this position so it'd be hard not to…
So is "eyebrows on fleek" simply a variant of "eyebrows on flick"? Maybe. But even if it is, I can't tell whether being "on flick" originally meant "on point," "well exercised," "well groomed," or something else. One of the first things I discovered in pursuing this question was that flick is indeed a common term used in connection with eyeliner. But these flicks involve the eyelashes and eyelid, not the eyebrow.
To its credit, this second theory ties fleek to a preexisting word instead of conjuring it out of thin air. The similarity between "fleek" and "flick," a term associated with makeup application, raises questions about a potential connection. It's plausible that "on fleek" evolved from "on flick," with "flick" referring to the precise and deliberate movements involved in grooming and shaping eyebrows.
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