Yaass — Animated cartoon character with wide smile and outstretched arms exclaiming 'YAS!'

Yaass

2013Catchphrase / slang expressionclassic

Published March 24, 2026

Also known as: Yas · Yaas · Yas Queen · Yaaass

Yaass is an enthusiastic affirmative expression and word of encouragement, typically directed at someone's style or appearance. The phrase traces back to 1980s ballroom culture but exploded online after an August 2013 YouTube video captured a young man ecstatically screaming "Yaaass Gaga, you look so beautiful" at Lady Gaga outside a venue4. The expression and its many spelling variations (Yas, Yaas, Yas Queen) became staple internet slang, later spawning the "Yassification" meme trend in late 20213.

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Overview

Yaass, an elongated, excited way of saying "yes," used to express overwhelming approval, hype, or admiration. The word can be stretched to any length ("Yaaaaaaaass") and is frequently paired with "queen" to form "Yas Queen," a compliment directed at someone who looks or acts flawlessly4. The expression is strongly associated with gay culture and drag communities, where it functions as both greeting and celebration2.

The phrase works as a standalone exclamation or as part of longer sentences of praise. Its spelling is intentionally flexible. More As and Ss generally mean more enthusiasm. The expression crossed from niche subcultural slang into mainstream internet vocabulary largely thanks to one viral moment with Lady Gaga.

Origin & Background

Platform
YouTube (viral video), Instagram (original post by PrinceNeptune)
Key People
PrinceNeptune
Date
2013 (internet origin); 1980s (ballroom culture roots)

The roots of "Yaass" go back to ballroom culture, the gay drag queen dance subculture that flourished in the 1980s, where it was used as an expression of fierce approval4. But the word's internet life started on a very specific date.

On August 21, 2013, a young man spotted Lady Gaga emerging for paparazzi cameras and lost his mind on camera, screaming "Yaaass Gaga, you look so beautiful"2. The video, originally posted to Instagram by a user known as PrinceNeptune, was uploaded to YouTube the same day4. The clip's raw, unfiltered energy struck a chord. By April 2015, the YouTube upload had picked up over 340,000 views4.

BuzzFeed identified PrinceNeptune as the Instagram user behind the original video1. In 2014, VFiles posted an interview segment featuring two separate young men who each claimed to be the voice screaming at Gaga, adding a small mystery to the meme's backstory4.

How It Spread

After the Lady Gaga video blew up, various spellings of the word spread fast across social media. People started filming themselves screaming "Yaass" at Lady Gaga, whether on television or at her live appearances4. The expression quickly detached from its Gaga-specific context and became a general-purpose exclamation.

The phrase migrated into image macros and GIFs, becoming a go-to reaction across platforms4. Remixes of the original video appeared, set to tracks like R. Kelly's "Bump and Grind" and Lady Gaga's own "Applause"1. BuzzFeed called it "the perfect way to tell someone you love them," helping push the expression into mainstream social media vocabulary1.

Urban Dictionary entries cemented the definition: a phrase used to express excitement, made popular by the viral fan video2. The expression's simplicity and emotional punch made it easy to adopt. By the mid-2010s, "Yas Queen" was showing up in mainstream television, advertising, and everyday conversation far beyond its queer cultural origins.

Frequently Asked Questions