Lessons Learned from Moo Deng’s Transformation from Cute to Frightening | Learning

I despatched my first Moo Deng meme through Instagram on September 3 at 10:15 pm, earlier than the Thai child pygmy hippopotamus took the world by storm (which suggests I’m higher and extra worldly than you).

It began innocently, with reposts from Khao Kheow Open Zoo’s X account, however rapidly escalated till my coworkers began sending me tweets about making a brisket out of the poor factor. Exactly how Moo Deng — which interprets to “bouncy pork” in Thai — has gone from cute to edible is past my pay grade, however perhaps it has one thing to do with the phenomenon of “cuteness aggression,” by which my need to eat the hippo comes out of affection and never malice (or starvation). That being stated, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo is now concerned about Moo Deng’s security, proscribing visiting hours to weekends. So perhaps calls to eat Moo Deng are literally malicious. 

The level right here is that I despatched this to my important different out of affection, and now Moo Deng has cycled by the spiraling phases of web fame. This sample rings true of Brat summer time, which started with inexperienced memes circulating amongst Charli XCX’s queer fan base and ended with NATO posting “peace” in Brat green and Kamala Harris’s marketing campaign absorbing the colour scheme as its personal. Moo Deng, as soon as a fairly insignificant hippo, has already turn into the face of Pop-Tarts and Sephora Thailand, in addition to showing in a community of influencer tutorials. Social media advertising seems to have its finger on the cultural pulse greater than ever earlier than, expediting the timeline between cool and company. 

Here’s my report on Moo Deng’s evolution from sleepy and cute (“eepy,” if you'll) to shamelessly raucous to the proper major course on your subsequent neighborhood cookout.

September 3: This is the primary Moo Deng meme I despatched, which set me up, when it comes to algorithm, for a lot of wasted hours of my early 20s. But, as you'll be able to see, I began with pure intentions. 

September 11: Moo Deng will get a Sephora advert, and the a part of me that needs I used to be scouted at a mall as a toddler is mad. This publish is maybe the very best encapsulation of the height Moo Deng Cute Era, throughout which magnificence influencers inducted the hippo into the digital movie star canon. 

Also September 11: While cuteness was the principle attraction of Moo Deng at this stage within the sport, her proclivity for screeching whereas thwarting her zookeepers’ efforts to management her motion resonated with one other zeitgeisty phenomenon: feminine rage.

September 17: I'd additionally classify this Moo Deng cake tutorial as a part of the Moo Deng Cute Era. However, right here social media customers start to notice comparisons between the hippo and edible gadgets. Perhaps this publish marks the turning level of Moo Deng’s recognition as a magnificence icon to a possible meals merchandise. 

September 18: This X (previously Twitter) person’s mom thought Moo Deng regarded just like the sugary, spherical South Indian dessert ragi mudde, a straightforward mistake to make. Its penalties, although, have solely made her comparisons to scrumptious treats more durable to shake:

September 18: X person @Bigcontentguy releases essentially the most excessive name to grill Moo Deng that I’ve seen wherever. His risk discusses facet dishes, exactly “some steamed rice, maybe some okra and glazed carrots.” Welcome to edgelord hell.

September 19: Flash tattoos of Moo Deng seem and do fairly effectively on Instagram. One picture particularly catches my eye: Moo Deng chomping down on a severed human leg. To me, this design and its recognition sign shifting cultural attitudes towards Moo Deng, maybe to justify a collective cuteness aggression-induced starvation: 

September 19: This meme walks the skinny line between a celebration of the aforementioned feminine rage — harmless sufficient, and even empowering — and a vilification of the chunky loaf. She’s rageful, she’s cute, she’s yummy?

September 19: Feminism adopts Moo Deng.

September 20: Makeup artist Mei Pang continues a reclamation of the hungry hippo’s iconic look. As one commenter places it, “Moisturized and unbothered, Moo Deng is THE ultimate beauty queen.”

September 22: A photoshopped Moo Deng swallows a whole monkey, finishing Moo Deng’s transformation from a lovably moody hippo right into a … monster? 

And another for the highway…