Cover What ‘kikay’ means: the beauty trend after ‘bebot’ explained
What ‘kikay’ means: the beauty trend after ‘bebot’ explained
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After the ‘bebot’ wave on TikTok and social culture, another feminine aesthetic rose. Learn more about the ‘kikay’ trend
In the wake of the bebot resurgence on social media platforms, a new aesthetic lexicon took shape among beauty conversations: kikay. The word itself is rooted in Filipino, where it describes a girl or woman with a keen interest in beauty products and fashion—a term that made its way into The Oxford English Dictionary as a Philippine English entry meaning “a flirtatious girl or woman” and broadly a beauty-conscious one.
But more than semantics, kikay is surfacing as a trend label that runs parallel to the current bebot makeup resurgence. As bebot casts its nostalgic gaze toward early-2000s Filipino beauty looks, kikay signals an undercurrent of aesthetic playfulness that predates—and in some ways informs—how femininity is stylised online and offline in 2026.
More from Tatler: Non-Filipino influencers embracing the ‘bebot’ trend: a 2000s beauty look goes mega-viral
‘Kikay’ as a linguistic and cultural category
Above The word ‘kikay’ in The Oxford English Dictionary
The word ‘kikay’ in The Oxford English Dictionary
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The word kikay entered English dictionaries as a Philippine English term meaning a girl or woman interested in beauty products, fashion and “girly” pursuits. In Philippine usage, it has been applied broadly to describe someone who enjoys enhancing her appearance with makeup, accessories and playful styling.
Jolina Magdangal as the archetype
In Filipino pop culture, kikay energy has been traced back to figures like Jolina Magdangal. In the 1990s, she became synonymous with exuberant, colourful fashion and hair accessories—from butterfly clips to layered highlights—that set her apart from more pared-back contemporaries and helped define an era’s idea of “extra” dressing. Early coverage of her style described her as a trendsetter whose offbeat looks became a template for young girls.
‘Kikay’ contrasted with ‘bebot’
@ling.kt Which look do you prefer?! IB @angel ᢉ𐭩 #bebottransition #bebot #kikay #makeuptransition #y2kaesthetic ♬ original sound - Ling.KT
Where bebot—now trending due to TikTok makeup reinventions based around a viral song and an early-2000s aesthetic—is associated with a specific kind of Y2K Filipina beauty look and swagger, kikay operates as a broader descriptor. Bebot speaks to a mood and mood-driven makeover; kikay gestures toward an attitude that embraces beauty routines and sartorial choices as identity play, rather than a singular iconic look.
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The ‘kikay’ kit as a cultural artefact
Above The ‘kikay’ kit (Photo: Jhong Pascua/Pexels)
The ‘kikay’ kit (Photo: Jhong Pascua/Pexels)
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Part of the term’s staying power comes from material culture: kikay kit entered the OED alongside kikay, referring to a cosmetics or vanity bag that holds the tools of grooming and beauty rituals. This object embodies how kikay has operated for decades as shorthand for an invested approach to the everyday art of making oneself up—an approach that extends into style, accessories and self-presentation.
Social feeds as archives of ‘kikay’ memory
On social media, kikay is cropping up alongside 2000s reboots, beauty throwbacks and even modern style. Users reference nostalgic styling cues (colour pop, playful hair accessories, layered outfits) as they remix them into contemporary feeds. These references often come with a wink toward names like Magdangal, whose visual legacy frequently appears in tutorials and “get the look” posts.
In 2026’s trend cycle, kikay stands as shorthand for a spectrum of beauty expression rooted in memory, language and ongoing reinterpretation.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
