Yas Queen

Yas queen is a phrase of fierce approval and celebration, roughly meaning yes, you are incredible. It pairs the drag-culture exclamation yas with queen, a term of respect for a drag performer or for anyone regal and commanding. The phrase comes out of ballroom culture, the Black and Latino LGBTQ+ scene where such praise was shouted to lift up performers, with the word yas dating to at least the 1980s balls. It later exploded through internet memes, celebrity fandom, and drag television, becoming a mainstream catchphrase. Because it traveled so far from its roots, commentators note it is often used without any awareness of the Black and Latino queer creativity that produced it. Understanding that origin is part of using it well.