🤩
Star-Struck Face
stahr-struhk
Definitions
1
Emotion · Excitement
Very Common
Expresses extreme excitement, admiration, or being awestruck. Shows enthusiasm and delight when seeing someone or something impressive, amazing, or inspiring.
Used to show admiration for celebrities, impressive achievements, or beautiful things. Often signals being a 'fan' of someone or something.
Just met Taylor Swift at the airport! 🤩 I can't believe it!
Social media post
Your presentation was absolutely brilliant 🤩
Work chat
Have you seen the new iPhone? The camera is 🤩
Text message
Emerged with celebrity culture and 'fandom' behaviors. Represents the feeling of meeting someone famous or witnessing exceptional talent.
2
Reaction · Praise
Common
Used to react to something visually stunning or impressive, particularly content that dazzles or amazes. Signals genuine appreciation for exceptional quality or beauty.
Popular in comments on social media to show enthusiastic approval or admiration. Often used when words feel inadequate.
Your wedding photos are absolutely gorgeous! 🤩
Instagram comment
The sunset view from our hotel room 🤩
Travel blog
Frequently used in influencer culture to express authentic appreciation. The stars in the eyes symbolize being 'dazzled' by what's seen.
Evolution Timeline
2017
First introduced in Unicode 10.0 as 'Star-Struck' emoji, quickly gaining popularity on Instagram.
Rise of influencer culture and visual social media platforms.
2018
Became associated with 'stan' culture and expressing admiration for celebrities and influencers.
Growing fan communities on Twitter and Instagram.
2020
Usage expanded during pandemic lockdowns as people expressed appreciation for everyday pleasures and small joys.
COVID-19 pandemic causing shift in values and expressions of gratitude.
2022
Became a staple in TikTok comments and reactions, especially for impressive visual content or skills.
TikTok's explosive growth and focus on talent showcasing.
Cultural Context
Represents 'fan culture' and parasocial relationships with celebrities and influencers. The stars in the eyes symbolize the idealization of admired figures.
One of few emojis that visually represents the idiom it's named after ('star-struck'), making it particularly effective at conveying the specific emotion.
Gained prominence with the rise of visual social media platforms where users seek validation through likes and positive reactions.
Particularly embraced by Gen Z and younger Millennials as part of 'stan culture' vocabulary, replacing older expressions of fandom.
Represents the dopamine rush associated with seeing something that exceeds expectations or triggers admiration and awe.
Regional Variations
Australia
Often used with Australian slang terms like 'deadset' or 'bloody' to emphasize amazement. Common in outdoor and nature contexts.
United Kingdom
Used more reservedly than in the US, often with British understatement. Common in reaction to impressive achievements or artistic performances.
United States
Frequently used with celebrity culture references and in fan communities. Often paired with 'OMG' or 'can't even' to express extreme excitement.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used selectively for truly exceptional circumstances. Often in family contexts to praise children's achievements or vacation photos.
Gen_Z: Essential reaction emoji on TikTok and Instagram. Used liberally to show genuine appreciation for content creators and aesthetic posts.
Older: Limited usage, primarily in response to family photos or when mimicking younger generations' communication styles.
Millennials: Commonly used for genuinely impressive moments, travel photos, and professional achievements. Less frequent than Gen Z but still common.
Common Combinations
🤩✨
Extreme amazement or being dazzled by something spectacular or magical.
Popular on Instagram and TikTok to emphasize visual appeal or extraordinary quality.
🤩❤️
Loving admiration or being a passionate fan of someone or something.
Used by fans expressing devotion to celebrities, artists, or content creators.
🤩🔥
Impressed by something extremely cool, hot, or trendy.
Common in fashion, music, and entertainment contexts to signal something is impressive and trending.
😱🤩
Shocked amazement or being blown away by something unexpected and impressive.
Used for reaction to surprising talents, plot twists, or unexpected excellence.
🤩💯
Perfect excellence or complete approval of something impressive.
Used to validate exceptional quality or performance, especially in creative fields.
Related Emojis
😍
Also shows admiration but with romantic or loving undertones versus pure amazement.
✨
Often paired with star-struck to emphasize sparkle and magic.
🌟
Shares star imagery and positive connotations of brightness and excellence.
😮
Shows surprise but without the admiration component.
🤯
Both express strong reaction to something impressive, but mind-blown is more shocked than admiring.