skinny legend

English

Etymology

skinny +‎ legend. Precise origins unclear, but earliest known occurrence was on Twitter in 2012. Subsequently adopted by fandoms of celebrities such as Christina Aguilera, and gained more widespread use around the late 2010's.

Noun

skinny legend (plural skinny legends)

1. (Internet slang, humorous) Term of endearment, used especially of celebrities by fans.
   • 2019, Susan White, Take the Shot‎^[2]:

     I grin as wide as the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Aorta, you are officially a skinny legend.

   • 2019, Andrea Park, “FKA Twigs Calls Out Use of “Problematic” Term “Skinny Legend””, in W Magazine‎^[3]:

     In certain celebrity-obsessed corners of the Internet, there is no greater compliment than being called a "skinny legend."

   • 2020, Justin Kirkland, “Fits for a Queen: A RuPaul's Drag Race Style Review”, in Esquire‎^[4]:

     Remember that harness Timothée Chalamet wore to the Oscars last year? An impossibly skinny legend named Violet Chachki has a thing or two to say about that.

Usage notes

Rarely entails the literal meaning of skinny (“thin”), and may be applied to people of all body shapes (though usually women). Particularly associated with stan culture.