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TheGaygency

Glossary

Wig

In queer and drag slang, "wig" is an exclamation of shock or delight at something amazing, drawn from the image of a look so good it knocks your wig off.

Wig has two registers in queer culture. Literally, it is a hairpiece central to drag and fashion looks. Figuratively, and more famously online, "wig" is an exclamation of amazement or approval. The idea comes from being so stunned or impressed that your wig flies off, as in "the performance was so good my wig flew across the room." Shortened to a single word, "Wig!" signals disbelief and delight at the same time. The usage grew out of Black queer and ballroom slang and spread widely through drag fandom and social media before crossing into broader internet culture.

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