About

Wish I Was Like You refers to a TikTok trend and meme series in which users, mostly ironically, lament wanting to be like someone else, typically humorous examples like fictional characters or public figures prominent in memes or internet culture, such as adult movie star King Nasir and his dances or the Blue Shirt Kid Sturdy. The trend utilizes the song "Prom Queen" by pop-punk band Beach Bunny. While the song had gone viral on TikTok in the past due to its relatable lyrics about insecurity and use in glow-up videos, the newer iteration of its 2026 spread is largely sarcastic and cynical.

Origin

A different section of the pop-punk song "Prom Queen" by Beach Bunny had been part of a TikTok trend years prior, in which users would show their physical transformations and "glow-ups" while the lyrics "Shut up, count your calories" play in the background.

One such example, posted by TikTok^[1] user @simplyshay300 on December 23rd, 2021, showcases the original trend. The video has since received over 32.1 million views and 5.9 million likes within less than five years.

The song saw newfound popularity in early 2026 due to a wave of nostalgia for the culture of early TikTok, as seen by the resurgence of other old trends such as Junko Posing. The trend, largely ironic in orientation, utilizes a different section of the song, with lyrics reading:

Wish I was like you
Blue-eyed blondie, perfect body
Maybe I should try harder
You should lower your expectations

The new iteration of the trend used in Wish I Was Like You memes, in which people imitate those that they ironically "wish to be like," began spreading in early 2026.

On March 11th, 2026, TikTok^[2] user @saamtespam posted an early example of a video in this format, imitating the characters of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. The video received over 1 million views and 156,900 likes in less than two months.

Spread

The trend began being used in conjunction with the King Nasir Dance meme, among others, especially dances, as it spread on TikTok in March and April 2026.

On March 16th, 2026, TikTok^[3] user @zeewickk posted a video recreating the King Nasir "dances" to the song "Prom Queen" by Beach Bunny. The post received over 19.1 million views and 2.1 million likes in less than one month.

The same day, TikTok^[4] user @cysniz posted a similar video, recreating the videos with the "Prom Queen" audio, intersecting with actual King Nasir clips. The video received over 12.6 million views and 1.1 million likes in less than one month.

More general examples also continued to spread on the platform. On March 24th, 2026, TikTok^[5] user @wickzz_steph mimicking Charlie Kirk drinking Starbucks. The video received over 2.3 million views and 365,300 likes in less than one month.

On April 6th, 2026, TikTok^[6] user @freshest_frederick used the meme format with choreographer Grant Gilmore, who had gone viral for his strange dance routines. The video received over 7.5 million views and 1.2 million likes in less than one month.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References