Wondering What “Mother” Means? Here Are Some Examples

If you’re chronically online like the rest of us, you’ve most likely come across phrases such as “she’s so mother”, “mother is mothering”, and “that’s mother for you” many times. Your reactions are either one of the two: frowning in confusion at the grammatically wrong sentence (you also thought you got caught up with all the Gen Z slang…) or snapping your fingers in agreement. 

Ahead, we dive deep into this Internetspeak so you can get fully acquainted with who’s running things around in Mother Central.

What does “mother” mean?

Think about it this way: calling someone “mother” is a heightened form of “she ate”. It’s the ultimate stamp of approval that acknowledges and cements a woman into pop culture history (or should we say ‘herstory’?) for their sheer impact and influence.

Many women in pop culture are considered iconic, but only some are knighted to the “mother” status. To be labelled as such by the internet would mean that the celebrity has truly impressed the masses, whether that be through their craft, skills or personality. 

Celebrities who are called “mother” typically exude a confident, strong, and powerful aura. Mothers walk the Earth like they were made to conquer it. They have great influence, garnering a strong online following for their magnetic energy. Mothers are also the embodiment of elegance, grace, and love, gladly taking all those who implore to be ‘adopted’ by them under their shiny wings. Mothers also typically exhibit a wide queer appeal (more on this below).

Where did the term “mother” come from?

While it’s easy to call “mother” a Gen Z internet slang (certainly there has been a notable rise in its usage from 2020 onward), the term actually has origins dating back to the 1960s. Specifically, the Black and Latinx ballroom scene in New York for the LGBT community. 

In that queer subculture, members are organised into groups or houses which were often directed by a “mother”. She was literally and figuratively the head of the house and in a position of ultimate power. Beyoncé’s lyrics which she calls herself “mother of my house” on The Queens’ Remix of Break My Soul, pay tribute to this origin.

Due to the lack of LGBT rights during this time, a Mother’s house was seen as a place of refuge for marginalised queer people of colour. And so, the Mother also took on this adoptive role as these spaces became a surrogate family unit for displaced individuals. 

As the term saw a resurgence thanks to the popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race, people outside the community began using the title, and it took off online just like other African American Vernacular English (AAVE) terms. Nowadays, the internet’s use of the maternal title typically refers to popular female figures whilst the queer community’s more fluid take on the word bestows it upon people in the LGBT community. 

READ: ‘Daddy’ decoded: Explaining the ‘daddy’, ‘zaddy’ and everything in between

Now that you know the origin of “mother”, it’s time to dive into the types of Mothers. Remember when we mentioned how Mothers refer to the head of a house or group? Well, what would different factions of Mothers look like in 2025? In light of Mother’s Day, find out which celebrities are mothering a new generation and why.

The Campy Mother 

In this house, Mothers are not afraid to dress in every colour and texture under the spectrum. The campy Mother lives for the drama and is, in fact, the drama. Think that one ambitious theatre kid who loves being the centre of attention (and can actually walk the talk). They have a grand vision, and everything, down to the smallest detail, is by their design. The gay community adores and treats them with the utmost reverence.

The campy Mother loves to push boundaries and goes against the grain. You will not catch them wearing the same schtick as everyone else or jumping on the bandwagon because they are trendsetters (don’t try to think like them, they’re five steps ahead). Known for being proud outliers and non-conformists, campy Mothers detest labels and inspire people to live unapologetically outside the box.

Campy Mothers include the one and only Mother Monster herself, Lady Gaga, for her groundbreaking artistry and allyship with the LGBT community; Beyoncé, for putting on a show every damn time (have you seen the robots?); Billy Porter for his impeccable gender-bending style; Jennifer Coolidge for her larger-than-life personality; and singer Charli XCX for making redefining the word “brat”.

The lesbian icon

While the Campy Mother has a firm stiletto in the exuberant gay community, the lesbians’ idea of a Mother is quite different. Think early 2000s Tumblr aesthetic with deep quotes and light leaks filter galore. They are cool creatives with an artsy flair that attract both feminine and masculine individuals in the lesbian community. They may not be as loud, but trust, they will have you hanging on every word. 

While campy Mothers appeal to those who love theatrics, the lesbian-approved Mother caters more to their sensitive, emotional side. So don’t be fooled, as they have a duality to them that’s both intimidating and mesmerising. This Mother can go from calm and collected to pure, unfiltered female rage, making her the perfect muse. Styling-wise, they can also look divine in a suit and rock a mean bob cut.

Mothers who are typically regarded as lesbian icons are Sarah Paulson and Cate Blanchett for their dedication to playing queer on-screen roles; Lana Del Rey for her siren-like Old Hollywood aesthetic lesbians can’t get enough of;  Chappell Roan for championing LGBT rights as an out-and-proud sapphic; and K-pop artists Chungha and Mamamoo for being one of the most LGBT-friendly singers in the industry.

The powerful madame 

Toeing the line between gentle and intimidating, you have the powerful madame. Dr. Vera Gorski in Sucker Punch or Anjelica Huston as The Director in John Wick come to mind, complete with a glorious cape and walking cane. These Mothers have clear boundaries and let you down gently while keeping it classy, whether it’s a well-practised smile or seamlessly turning an uncomfortable situation into a light-hearted joke.

Nothing fazes them, and even if it does, they don’t show it on their beautifully sculpted faces. These Mothers know how to handle a situation or a crowd with ease. Popular Mothers under this category include Anne Hathaway for her undisputed elegance and how she gentle-parented a horde of screaming fans (we’re so proud of you, Queen of Genovia); Rihanna for having the best side-eye in Hollywood; and Angela Bassett because have you seen those guns?

The Mothers for Mothers 

The equivalent of a girl’s girl, this category belongs to Mothers who look out for other mothers. This house is just plain sunshine and wholesome, positive vibes. When you look at them, you think they could be best friends with your own mum. Because of this, many people view these Mothers as a safe space, a comforting presence to seek solace, especially when you already have pre-existing mummy issues.

Like the cool auntie you never had or a friendly neighbour, you can count on them to look after you and advise you with their pearls of wisdom. In fact, they’re so cool that they hit it off with the older and younger crowds, proving that they are lovable with anyone they meet. 

Popular motherly icons include Martha Stewart, who hilariously has Snopp Dogg as her BFF; Sandra Bullock, because we know mums just adore her; Princess Diana for literally being the People’s Princess; Hollywood’s eternal leading lady Meryl Streep; and Michelle Obama because she’ll hype you up for constantly raising the bar and doing it flawlessly.

For more reads about mothers, head here.