Hun culture (also hon culture) is a British subculture that is popular with women and gay men. It often revolves around the "stanning" of usually British female celebrities who are often pop singers, reality television stars and soap opera actresses and characters who are considered gay icons. It often relies on "camp" and niche humour.[1][2][3]
Origin
Cocktails such as the cosmopolitan are popular with huns
"Hun culture" (hun or hon), originating from the term of endearmenthoney, celebrates "naff" and deifies soap actors, reality TV icons and female pop stars. The culture mixes nostalgia, camp humour and irony-laced national pride. The Guardian wrote: "If American social media influencers are preened, puckered and always on sponsored holidays, huns are sloppy, sarcastic and off on their "holibobs"." The culture has encouraged the creation of social media accounts such as Loveofhuns, Huns and Giggles, and Hunsnet (a word play of Mumsnet), celebrating "huns".[4][5][6][7] Comedian Jack Rooke made references to several "huns" in his Channel 4 sitcom Big Boys, including television presenter Alison Hammond, Big Brother 6 housemate Makosi Musambasi, and The X Factor contestant Gamu. Rooke said: "I support hun culture because it's like, no, we’re going to celebrate these women that 15 years ago would just be constantly slagged off in the press."[4]
Television presenter and actress Denise Welch, who has been referred to as a hun, said "I think if you're older and a survivor and still remaining relevant in whatever way, that makes you a hun."[4]The Hundamental Guide to Life: Learn to Live, Love & Laugh Like a True Hun, a book based on hun culture written by Gareth Howells, was released in August 2022.[4][8] Media personality and businesswoman Gemma Collins, who rose to fame on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011 and has subsequently maintained a media career, is considered a staple of "hun culture" and has been idolised for her popular catchphrases, diva behaviour and non conforming attitude. As a result, Collins became the subject of numerous internet memes and was branded a "queen".[9]Steps singer Lisa Scott-Lee is often referenced in hun culture, most frequently for a moment in her television series Totally Scott Lee where she discovered her single, Get It On had peaked at number 23 in the UK Singles Charts, with Scott-Lee saying she was "B List at Capital" (referring to the station's playlist).[10]The X Factor "rejects", applicants who failed to pass the first audition, such as Rachel Lester, Holly Jervis, Kelly Peakman, Dawn the Jockey, Debbie Stevens and girl group Ablisa are regularly referenced in "hun culture".[11][12][13]
Sophie Anderson, pornographic actress, formerly known as one half of the "Cock Destroyers".[17]
Sue Tuke, better known as "Charity Shop Sue", a fictional comedy character played by Selina Mosinski in the mockumentary-style web series Charity Shop Sue. [20]
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