Something new is always trending on TikTok. Step aside quarantine dancing and sharing your list of dating icks — “sassy men” are taking over the FYPS of millions. And if you’re new to the movement, I’m here to give you the scoop on the face of the trend: Prayag Mishra.
Known on TikTok as @444pray, Mishra is a 25-year-old Canadian who shares simple, yet sassy, vlogs and videos about his life most commonly filmed in his car. Mishra has grown his following known as “Pookie Nation’ or “Pookie Bears” from 29,000 to over 2.9 million in the past two months all while, in NBC’s words, “encouraging flamboyant self-expression” instead of the toxic, overly masculine content so many other influencers are putting out.
Off of TikTok, however, Mishra seems to live a pretty average life for a 25-year-old. According to his LinkedIn, Mishra graduated from Western University in London, Ontario in 2020 with a business degree. From there, it looks as though he worked in sales and other business roles for a variety of companies before becoming a full-time content creator in October 2022. I know I’m glad he did — his TikTok is quickly becoming one of my favorite accounts out there. Pookie Nation, I have arrived.
The Canadian in me swooned with this video. He’s so right for the sour cream-glazed Timbit.
Despite his popularity, Mishra isn’t the first “sassy man” to grace the internet — in fact, there’s been a “sassy man” movement for quite some time. According to the online meme database Know Your Meme, the “sassy man apocalypse” started in the summer of 2023 and was used to describe men with more feminine expressions and attributes. In worst cases, the term “sassy” has even been used in a derogatory and even homophobic manner.
So, whether the rise of sass is from this trend or your parents telling you not to be sassy as a child, it seems as if Mishra has taken the word as a compliment and completely changed its negative connotation. And we love that for him.
Whether or not this is going to be the next social movement to redefine masculinity, it is refreshing to see Mishra not only be himself but encourage others to do the same online. While one of the benefits of social media is that we are constantly aware of what’s going on in the world, it can also get overwhelming. I don’t know about you, but it’s nice to have creators who lighten their follower’s days, promote confidence, and spread all the good vibes.