The Hidden Cost of Borrowed Language: Princess Jezebel Speaks Out

Dr. Élodie Dubois · 2026-10-12

Princess Jezebel is calling attention to the way language rooted in trans, queer, and ballroom culture has been absorbed into mainstream entertainment and online culture, even as trans people continue to be demonized and marginalized. It's a contradiction that's hard to ignore, and Jezebel isn't staying quiet about it. ### The Words We Borrow Terms like "serving," "it's giving," "spill the tea," "clocking the tea," "cunty," "doll," and "diva" now sit comfortably within everyday youth and internet culture. But here's the thing: these phrases didn't just pop up out of nowhere. They were shaped within Black and Latino queer, drag, and ballroom communities, with trans women at the very center of that culture. Now? They're routinely used for cultural capital by a mainstream that has historically portrayed trans people as dangerous, deviant, or disposable. For Jezebel, the contradiction is impossible to overlook. ### A Personal Reckoning "As a trans child, I remember watching The Silence of the Lambs with my brothers and sisters when I was 12 and seeing Buffalo Bill presented through the imagery of gender transition as a murderous predator," Jezebel recalls. "I grew up in a media culture that taught audiences to fear people like me, and now I live in a world where that same culture hijacks our language for cultural capital. There is an extraordinary contradiction in celebrating what trans people create while continuing to demonize trans people themselves." That's a heavy truth. Think about it: the same culture that once taught us to fear trans people now profits off their creativity. It's like borrowing someone's car, trashing it, and then acting like you own it. ### Madonna's "Vogue" and the Pattern That Won't Quit Jezebel sees a clear historical parallel in Madonna's 1990 single "Vogue," which brought ballroom culture to a mass audience after it had been developed within predominantly Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities. She argues that its mainstream success reflected a pattern that continues today: trans and queer culture can be adopted, repackaged, and commercialized without adequately centering the creators and originators who developed it, even while those communities remain marginalized. It's not about blaming any single artist. It's about recognizing a system that rewards borrowing while punishing the source. And that system hasn't changed much in three decades. ### Who Is Princess Jezebel? A London-based professional dominatrix and founder of a community for trans and non-binary BDSM professionals across the UK and Ireland, Jezebel offers first-hand commentary on trans identity, media, culture, and life in modern Britain. She's not just talking about theory; she's living it every day. You can find and follow Princess Jezebel at TransPrincessJezebel.com. She's also on Instagram at @transprincessjezebel, where she continues to challenge the status quo and advocate for trans visibility and respect. ### Why This Matters Language is power. When we use words like "serving" or "spill the tea" without acknowledging their roots, we're not just being trendy. We're participating in a long history of erasure. And when trans people are still fighting for basic rights and safety, that erasure has real consequences. So next time you say "it's giving," take a moment to think about where it came from. Because the people who created that language deserve more than just credit; they deserve respect, protection, and a seat at the table. After all, you can't celebrate the culture without honoring the people who made it.