Moo Deng Is Actually A Lifestyle Icon — Why The Internet Is Obsessed With A Pygmy Hippo

Step aside influencers; there’s a new IT girl in town. If I weren’t already bored of Sophia/Halley drama, I would be now. This new girlie is even enough to tear me away from Taylor Swift at the NFL and trust me, that takes a lot. I’m OBVIOUSLY talking about internet sensation Moo Deng because who isn’t right now?? This tiny hippo has stolen the hearts of the entire world at a time when we need her most. I thought Reputation (Taylor’s Version) would tear me out of my latest bout of depression, but it might be this bouncing lil bebe instead.

But this fame comes with a cost, as Moo Deng is experiencing the same scrutiny and zealous fandom experienced by Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, and other icons. Visitors have been bothering the baby hippo, throwing water and seashells at her to wake her for a photo. CCTV has now been installed, and an officer is present to watch over her. As she is JUST A BABY, she needs lots of sleep and time with her momma. I swear if any of you punks hurt Moo Deng, I will ride at dawn. Excuse me while I immediately book a plane ticket to Thailand to protect my pretty princess.

Here’s everything to know about the internet’s favorite baby hippo and why Moo Deng is actually a lifestyle icon.

Who is Moo Deng? The Viral Baby Hippo

Moo Deng is a two-month-old pygmy hippo residing at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Pygmy hippos are a small species of hippopotamidae, which are native to West Africa. Essentially, they look like wittle hippos and baby ones are even smaller and cuter. The name Moo Deng roughly translates to ‘bouncy pig’ in Thai, and she is literally that. Aside from her tiny size, she’s got cartoonish rosy cheeks and bright eyes, making her the cutest thing alive.

The zoo started sharing clips of Moo Deng online, and she quickly became an internet sensation. Not only is she going viral and becoming the mascot we sorely need at this time, but visitor numbers to the zoo have almost doubled since her rise to fame. FYI, her siblings are called ‘Pork Stew’ and ‘Sweet Pork’ — screaming.

Since she was born, 128 of the zoo’s last 150 social media posts have been about Moo Deng. The TikTok account dedicated to the hippos and other species at the zoo has over 2.5 million followers right now.

Moo Deng Is The It Girl We Needed

This isn’t the first time an animal has captured our hearts, and I’m not talking about the white crusty dog you refuse to wash. Two years ago, we all turned to Noodle the Pug to discover whether it would be a “bones” day, and his predictions took over all astrological explanations — did you know he got a book deal? And while Noodle taught us it’s okay to have a “no bones” day, AKA rot in bed, Moo Deng is showing us how to tackle all aspects of a “bones” day and how to be a boss ass bitch.

Moo Deng Bites Back

Pygmy girlie is known for being a sassy little thing (ew, I sound like a fuckboy in your DMs), as she will affectionately bite her handlers. And you know what? She should! We all should bite back a lil. Moo Deng is trying to tell us to use our verbal chompers, which are just as big as hers, and stop taking everyone’s shit. Bite back when Suze from Accounting claims that a blanket hoodie isn’t a WFH expense! Bite back when your male friend mocks you for enjoying fucking pumpkin spiced lattes! Bite back when your Hinge date thinks he can leave you on read despite railing you into oblivion last night! Moo Deng wants us to BITE BACK, and by god, I will.

Moo Deng Is A Skincare Girlie

On a more demure, mindful note, Moo Deng is also in her self-care era. I mean, look at that moisturized skin. She is glowing!!! And not in the I-just-ran-for-the-subway-a-tit-escaped-my-bra-I’m-sweating-buckets way, but in a I do my 10-step skincare routine nightly. Yes, her skincare routine might involve less retinol and more mud (drop a vlog girlie), but the point still stands. That is one pygmy hippo with incredible skin, and we could have that kind of glowing skin, too, if we actually took off our makeup before bed. Maybe it’s a sign that the world should return to the mud mask era of the early 2000s. Can a skincare girlie lemme know?

Moo Deng is clearly staying hydrated and guzzling down her water — look at her. She is slurping down the good stuff, and it is working for her. Stop reading this and go drink some water before you turn into ashes.

Brands have been quick to jump on the Moo Deng train, with Sephora Thailand telling social media users to “wear your blush like a baby hippo” in posts promoting products in pink and peach tones. Time named her an “Icon” and “Legend” and claimed “She Is the Moment.”

Moo Deng Inspires

Moo Deng isn’t looking at the tigers and thinking she needs stripes. She isn’t gazing over at the elephants and thinking damn, where my trunk at? No, this Pygmy Hippo is being the best Pygmy Hippo she can be. She doesn’t mind her rolls. She is splashing about and living her best life. I want to roll around with the same disregard for my tummy. I’m getting a lil emosh writing this (that Lexapro ain’t hitting today), but Moo Deng is doing a damn good job of staying in her lane, and maybe we all need to do that. Like get off Instagram and engagement posts, get off LinkedIn and promotion announcements, and just nourish your inner Pygymy Hippo. IDK about you, but I’m so inspired.