If I had to make a list of the most wholesome celebrities ever, Keke Palmer would definitely be on it. She’s hilarious, talented, relatable, and if her 2007 song “Bottoms Up” isn’t on your throwback playlist yet, just saying — it’s a classic. Now, Queen Keke is responsible for one of my all-time favorite trends on social media. The “I Know It Ain’t Thee Stallion” TikTok trend (also known as #ItsYourGirl), capitalizes on a golden moment from the 2021 Met Gala, in which the one and only Megan Thee Stallion approaches Keke on the red carpet. The trending sound is phenomenal, and the TikTok trend itself is even better.
If you kept up with this year’s Met Gala, you’ll know that Keke helped host the glamorous event alongside fellow stars and co-chairs, Billie Eilish, Timothée Chalamet, Amanda Gorman, and Naomi Osaka. (Talk about a squad I’m trying to join). During the star-studded event, fashion’s biggest night that low key resembles prom night for Hollywood’s elite, Keke interviewed many celebrities, one of which included the iconic Megan Thee Stallion.
In this delightful clip, Megan approaches Keke on the red carpet, and it’s clear that Keke has absolutely zero chill as she bounces up and down excitedly, and says: “Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh I know it ain’t, I know it ain’t, the Stallion. You know it’s your girl!” Not only does this moment prove, yet again, that Keke is the hype girl you want in your corner, but it makes for a marvelous trending sound that TikTok is 100% here for.
The “I Know It Ain’t Thee Stallion” TikTok trend utilizes this fantastic audio, which is a catchy piano tune matched with Keke’s enthusiastic chatter. TikToker @contejasmusic created the sound on September 29th, not long after the Met Gala and right as Keke’s soundbite started going viral on TikTok. Now, TikTokers are using the audio to show moments when they, too, get hype to see someone they love, and the results are giving me life.
In this trend, there are typically two people involved: the first person who lip syncs, “oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, I know it ain’t, I know it ain’t, the Stallion!” Then, the camera pans to a second person who says, “you know it’s your girl!” If you’d rather record the trend solo, you can always act out both parts like this TikToker, who says, “when I see me and my favorite coworker are working the same shift.” Regardless of your approach, you’ll want to add text overlay describing your situation and who, exactly, you’re excited to see. The “I Know It Ain’t Thee Stallion” trend can be interpreted however you want, but the goal is to capture good vibes while hyping up someone you know and love.
For example, this version by @avesbenner and her friends says, “When The Bachelorette boys are on your college campus” followed by actual footage of Greg (IYKYK) lip syncing. This one from @oshamy28 is about when your roomie’s boyfriend comes over, and this one by @itz.stormyyy says, “when you go to the bathroom during class and u see yo friend.” This version from @annaxsitar makes me smile, because who can’t relate to the feeling of missing your mom three days after moving out of your house? Continuing the mom appreciation theme, TikToker Madisyn Amia shows the adorable moment when she brought her mom to a wedding as her date. In all seriousness, why haven’t I been doing that my whole life?
I don’t know if it’s the hilarious soundbite, the combined power of Keke and Megan in the same video, or the way Keke’s sound aligns strangely well with the piano version, but there are many things that make this TikTok trend one of my favorites. Try it for yourself, and let me know how it goes. In the meantime, I’ll be cracking up over the video of Keke getting fired up about “Titanic” and waiting for the meme queen’s next viral moment.