kaylanewman

Seventeen year-old Chicago native Kayla Newman is the young woman behind what might be the most popular slang term of the past year.

Speaking to Newsweek, Newman said the phrase just came to her.

‘I never heard of the word, and nobody else had heard of the word. I just said it, and I guess that’s what came out. That’s about it.’

Her six second Vine soon went viral. It currently has nearly 30 million loops. The phrase has been used by everyone form Nicki Minaj to IHOP. Newman told Newsweek that she’s planning to come up with more popular phrases.

‘I’m trying to think of some, but it’s like, with me, it’s just gonna flow.’

Why is this important? Because it is rare for black culture creators to get their due once their contributions have gone mainstream. Here’s to hoping that this isn’t the last we’ve heard from Kayla.

Read more at Newsweek.

h/t For Harriet

 

Photo: Courtesy of Kayla Newman/Screenshot

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  • The Black Youth Project is a platform that highlights the voices and ideas of Black millennials. Through knowledge, voice, and action, we work to empower and uplift the lived experiences of young Black Americans today.