MA-0028 · first seen 15 October 2017
Gigachad
A black-and-white portrait of an impossibly chiselled jaw, used to represent unbothered, absurd perfection.
- Status
- RisingClimbing 6% or more against the previous 90 days
- Trend score
- 55/100Estimated
- Change, 90 days
- +10%Estimated
- Peak
- 77May 2021
- Years active
- 8Index of 30 or more
- First seen
- 201715 October 2017
Popularity over time
Monthly attention from Oct 2017 to Oct 2026. Hover or tab through the chart for each month.
- First appearance
- Went viral
- Peak
Attention index, 0 to 100 on one scale for the whole archive. Estimated from each meme’s key dates, not measured.
About
The photograph comes from Sleek’N’Tears, an art project by photographer Krista Sudmalis featuring the model Ernest Khalimov. On 15 October 2017 it was linked on Reddit’s r/bodybuilding, and the next day it was posted to 4chan’s /pol/, where the name “GigaChad” first appeared.
It stayed niche for years. In 2021 formats such as “Average Fan vs. Average Enjoyer” and a wave of video edits took it to a mainstream audience, and the image became a stand-in for anyone who ignores criticism and does exactly what they want.
Origin
A photograph from the Sleek’N’Tears art project, posted to Reddit on 15 October 2017 and to 4chan the next day.
15 October 2017
Viralization
The “Average Fan vs. Average Enjoyer” format, with video edits, carried it to a mainstream audience in early 2021.
February 2021
Peak
March 2021, the peak of the Average Fan vs. Average Enjoyer craze.
May 2021
Timeline
From the first post to where it stands today.
Origin
A photo project
A portrait from the Sleek’N’Tears project is linked on Reddit.
Early adoption
A name appears
A 4chan thread gives the portrait its name, GigaChad.
Viral
Average Fan vs. Average Enjoyer
The format puts the portrait on the confident side of a comparison.
Peak
Mainstream
Video edits and reaction images spread across social platforms.
Decline
Saturation
Brands and parodies take over from the original users.
Current
A stock character
Remains a standard image for exaggerated confidence.
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