baddie
noun
a confident, stylish, and attractive woman
What does baddie mean?
Baddie refers to someone, usually a woman, who is confident, stylish, and attractive.
Examples of baddie
In the late 2010s, being a baddie meant you looked good, got to the bag and stood on business if things got tough.
—Kenyatta Victoria, Essence, 1 May 2024
As she continues to push boundaries in music and fashion, Latto reminds us all to stay true to ourselves—because that’s the real baddie energy.
—Founded by legacy YouTuber and influencer De’arra Taylor, Lorvae’s sunglasses elevate any look and help anyone “exude [their] inner baddie on any day.” The brand’s female-led team prides itself on creating durable, high-quality products that embody “self-expression, individuality, and creativity.”
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Where does baddie come from?
In its suggestion of self-assuredness and self-confidence, baddie (which began appearing online in the late 2010s) is similar to an older term bad bitch, whose second element is a positive reclamation of that word. Both uses of baddie and bad bitch originated in African American English slang.
A bad bitch is a woman, black or white, who knows who she is, knows how to get what she wants, can be sweet or evil depending on the situation, who can take care of herself without begging nobody for nothing.
—A baddie remains confident and beautiful whether in makeup, barefaced, tight clothes or even in sweatpants. A baddie lives the world on her terms, and she’s also known in pop culture as a bad bitch. ... The baddie aesthetic became popularized in the 2010s by African American women, particularly in online communities and social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram as a positive term for women to embrace themselves and accentuate their femininity. This is in the same line as hashtags like #BlackGirlMagic, promoted to boost self esteem.
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How is baddie used?
Baddie is a noun, although it is sometimes used like an adjective to modify other nouns, as in “baddie vibes/style/era/etc.” Baddie is positive, complimentary, often celebratory.
A pastel green tie-front bralette bikini top that may give you some interesting tan lines, but is well worth it if you get to set Instagram baddie vibes while kicking it poolside. Now am I right or am I right?
—Gone was the dowdy skirt suit; she wore an elegant, fitted black midi dress ... and she accessorized it with an opulent but tasteful gold link necklace and matching earrings. ... In other words, as of episode 4, Gerri entered her baddie era. She’s feeling herself, and her wardrobe reflects that.
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