Main Character

Definition:

A self-aware, often ironic way of describing someone who acts as if they're the protagonist of a movie / story, consciously or unconsciously centering themselves in a given situation or narrative

Context:

The phrase "Main Character" emerged as a TikTok trend in early 2020, gaining significant traction after Ashley Ward's viral video encouraging viewers to "romanticize your life" and "think of yourself as the main character." While it began during the pandemic as self-help advice promoting confidence and self-actualization (often tagged as #maincharacterenergy), the phrase quickly evolved into a double-edged sword in internet culture.

Nowadays, it is more commonly used ironically (or even critically to call out narcissistic behavior). Terms like "main character syndrome" & "main character energy" are often used to poke fun at people who take this mindset to an extreme, especially when they're clearly performing for social media attention or treating others as mere supporting characters in their personal narrative.

Example:

^{(all names & events in the
following scenario have been made
up)}

Megin: “I'm convinced that our dog is the main character and we're just extras”

Khris: “Right? The way she struts around like she owns the place!”