By now, you’ve probably seen Hailey Welch, aka the Hawk Tuah Girl, at least a dozen times on your timeline, feed, or TikTok FYP. She’s the viral sensation who dropped a cryptic, Southern-flavored bombshell of a phrase—“You gotta give him that Hawk Tuah and spit on that thang!”—and the internet hasn’t been the same since. It’s been months, and somehow, she’s still trending. The real question is: Why?
Let’s break down why the internet still can’t quit Hawk Tuah Girl, even after the memes should have faded away like that one celebrity couple everyone knew wouldn’t last. (Looking at you, Bennifer 1.0.)
1. The Mystery of “Hawk Tuah”: We Still Don’t Know What It Means
The beauty of the Hawk Tuah phenomenon lies in its utter confusion. To this day, no one knows what “Hawk Tuah” means. Is it life advice? A euphemism? A riddle wrapped in an enigma? Not even Hailey herself seems to have the answer. When asked about it in an interview, she said, “I really don’t know where it came from. I just said it, and it stuck.”
This lack of clarity is exactly why the internet can’t let it go. Dr. Jonah Berger, a professor at the Wharton School, explains, “Viral content often thrives on mystery and ambiguity. People share things they don’t fully understand because they want to be part of the conversation, even if no one in the conversation knows what’s going on.” And that’s what we’ve got with Hawk Tuah—an endless loop of WTF that keeps everyone invested.
2. The Meme Machine: Hawk Tuah Has Infinite Meme Potential
If there’s one thing we know about the internet, it’s that memes are forever. They have the uncanny ability to adapt to just about anything, and Hawk Tuah is no exception. Since Hailey’s viral moment, the phrase has been turned into everything from rap remixes and motivational quotes to those ultra-dramatic, deep-fried memes Gen Z loves so much.
According to KnowYourMeme, the phrase “Hawk Tuah” has been tagged in over 25,000 memes, and that number’s growing daily. TikTok alone has seen 10 million views under the Hawk Tuah hashtag, where users are re-enacting Hailey’s legendary interview or putting their own ridiculous spin on it.
TikTok user @SpitOnThatThang (yes, that’s an actual handle) said, “The phrase is so random, it just works with everything. You can drop it into any context, and it somehow makes sense, even when it doesn’t.” And that’s the key: it doesn’t have to make sense. In fact, the less sense it makes, the funnier it gets.
3. Hailey Welch Is a Walking Meme—And She Owns It
Part of why Hawk Tuah continues to trend is Hailey herself. She didn’t just have a viral moment and disappear into obscurity like so many others before her. No, Hailey leaned all the way in, embracing her accidental stardom like a true internet queen. She’s constantly engaging with her fans, dropping new content, and reminding us all why we fell in love with her in the first place: her total authenticity.
One Instagram fan commented, “Hailey’s not trying to be famous. She just is. She’s got this ‘I don’t care’ vibe, and people love her for it.” It’s true—there’s nothing polished or manufactured about her. What you see is what you get: a Southern girl who went viral for something she didn’t plan, and now she’s rolling with it.
And she’s rolling in cash, too, thanks to her merch empire (but we’ll get to that in a second). Hailey’s ability to stay relatable while navigating the crazy world of internet fame is why people are still hooked.
4. The Merch Madness: People Can’t Stop Buying Hawk Tuah Gear
Remember when you thought the whole Hawk Tuah thing was a passing trend? Well, guess what—it’s not, and neither is the merch. Hailey’s “Spit on That Thang” hoodies, Hawk Tuah mugs, and even fanny packs are selling out faster than your last Amazon order on Prime Day. In fact, Hailey has reportedly made over $200,000 from merch sales alone, proving that you don’t need a business degree to know when to slap a phrase on a T-shirt and call it a day.
Why are people still buying Hawk Tuah gear months after the original video? “It’s like wearing a piece of internet history,” says marketing expert Sarah Watson. “Viral merch lets people feel like they’re part of something, even if it’s as nonsensical as a random catchphrase.”
And honestly, that’s what we love about it. It doesn’t have to make sense to be iconic.
5. The Collaboration Rumors: Hawk Tuah Might Be Heading for TV
Part of why Hailey Welch is still trending has to do with the rumors swirling around her potential collaborations. Word on the street is that Hailey has been approached by several reality TV producers who want to turn her life into a show. Because, let’s face it, we’d all tune in to watch Hailey and her grandma argue about what Hawk Tuah really means while packing orders for her next merch drop.
Variety recently reported that viral stars are a hot commodity for networks looking to tap into younger audiences, and Hailey is at the top of the list. “She’s got that perfect combination of charm and chaos,” said Amanda Shore, a reality TV producer. “She’s the kind of personality that viewers would love to follow.”
And let’s be real—if Hailey gets a show, it’s going to send Hawk Tuah back into the viral stratosphere, where it’ll stay for another decade, minimum.
6. The Simplicity of Southern Sass
There’s also something undeniably charming about Hailey’s Southern energy. She’s unapologetically herself, accent and all. Her down-home, no-frills approach to life has resonated with fans in a way that feels refreshing. In a world where influencers are constantly curating their feeds to perfection, Hailey is the exact opposite—and that’s exactly why people love her.
Dr. Christopher Carpenter, a communications expert at Western Illinois University, explains the appeal: “People are drawn to personalities that feel genuine, especially when they’re not trying to be polished. Hailey’s success is a reminder that authenticity is often more powerful than a perfectly planned brand.”
The world may never understand Hawk Tuah, but the internet is clearly hooked on Hailey’s particular brand of chaos. Whether it’s the Southern sass, the mystery of her catchphrase, or her undeniable charm, one thing’s for sure: Hawk Tuah isn’t going anywhere.
Hawk Tuah Has Become Internet Royalty
At this point, the Hawk Tuah Girl has transcended the average viral sensation. She’s not just a meme anymore; she’s a brand, a movement, a Southern riddle that we’ll be trying to decode for years. The internet loves a mystery, and Hailey Welch has given us the most entertaining one we’ve seen in a long time.
And the best part? Hailey’s just getting started. As long as the merch keeps selling, the memes keep coming, and the collaborations keep rolling in, Hawk Tuah will continue to live on—confusing us, delighting us, and reminding us why we all fell in love with the internet in the first place.