The phrase grew out of online slang, where thicc became a playful, exaggerated way to describe someone or something with noticeable curves or bulk. Shared as a short reaction sound across meme pages and short-form video apps, it caught on because it is instantly recognisable and easy to drop over almost any surprising reveal. Rather than belonging to one film or television moment, its popularity comes from repetition: creators reuse the same line for new subjects, keeping the joke familiar while the visual changes each time.