The term "slay" transitioned from its roots in Black and Latino LGBTQ+ ballroom culture to become the definitive Gen Z superlative of 2023.
The transition of "slayed" from subculture to mainstream pop culture is inextricably linked to the explosion of reality television, specifically RuPaul’s Drag Race (premiering 2009). As the show gained international traction, it exported the vernacular of the ballroom to a global audience. The show’s host, RuPaul, frequently employed the term, and contestants used it to describe high-stakes performance moments. slayed 23 01 24 aria taylor and alyx star xxx 4 top
