Curating the Self: Slay Queens as a Social Identity
Slay queens can be seen as performers in a new kind of economy where attention itself becomes currency. Visibility, influence, and image are no longer just by-products of success — they are the success. In this space, identity is monetised, and the self becomes both the product and the producer. The work slay queens do isn’t traditional — it’s carefully crated. They don’t just “live life”, they construct images. Photography, styling, socialising — these aren’t side activities, they’re the work itself. Every post is intentional, every aesthetic choice is strategic. What might look like casual self-expression is actually a form of disciplined production. At the centre of all this is emotional labour. Slay queens constantly maintain relationships with followers — replying, engaging, performing a kind of closeness. Their presence online is ongoing and demanding, requiring charm, relatability, and consistency. In a way, they function like customer service agents — except the “service” they’...