What does “midnight ballerina” mean on TikTok?
“Midnight ballerina” is a euphemism for strippers and exotic dancers. The phrase can also refer to pole dancers, burlesque dancers, and anyone who can do sexy dances, but typically, it refers to strippers. The phrase isn’t new, but it went viral in 2025 after Love Island contestant Huda Mustafa gave several provocative, stripper-esque performances. Naturally, TikTokers flocked to the platform to discuss Huda’s moves, someone referred to her as a “midnight ballerina,” and the phrase spread like wildfire from there. There are countless videos with TikTokers providing the definition. TikToker @itsmarlei is very straightforward about it in this video where she says, “A midnight ballerina is a stripper. It’s a stripper, girl! It’s a stripper.” Huda is a woman, but midnight ballerinas can be any gender. The phrase is sometimes used as a code word on social media so users can talk about explicit content (typically, discussions about sex work) without being shadow-banned by the platform. There’s even a fancy new term for this kind of coded language–algospeak.
Why did “midnight ballerina” go viral on TikTok in 2025?
The phrase went viral after Huda’s provocative dancing on Love Island. As Gen Z would say, Huda Mustafa objectively popped off during the show’s dance challenges. Grinding, twerking, belly dancing, lap dancing–she did it all. It was more than just provocative booty shakin’, though. Huda showed real dance skill, with Love Island fans claiming on TikTok that she must have experience as a “midnight ballerina” to be that good. The phrase was an instant hit, seemingly getting more popular every time Huda performed. For example, TikTok user @marayjanee posted this video, captioned “Huda did not come to playyyyyy,” with many users making “midnight ballerina” references. Users also say things like, “The legs up confirmed she a dancer ????” and “She’s not beating the stripper allegations…” TikToker @tyhg5367 posted this video discussing the reasons why she believes Huda was definitely a midnight ballerina at some point. Many commenters agree and say things like: “As a former midnight ballerina she 100% is/was and she a straight HUSTLER. Much respect ????” and “That is definitely a midnight ballerina move, don’t no class teach that but a night in the club does????????” Most users weren’t being malicious, and many were impressed, using “midnight ballerina” in a flattering way and making comments like “MY GIRL HUDA ATE.” “Midnight ballerina” still feels a bit like a backhanded compliment, though, and some folks were definitely throwing shade at Huda by calling her that. So, was Huda a stripper or not? Huda has never said, and there’s no evidence to indicate she’s been a stripper. She does have a professional background in theater and dance, and she’s currently a fitness influencer and coach.
Where did “midnight ballerina” come from?
The phrase has probably been around for years among sex workers. We can’t pinpoint the exact origin of "midnight ballerina,” but the phrase isn’t brand new–it’s likely been around for many years among sex workers and exotic dancers. More recently, the phrase may have gained some traction in general pop culture after Cori Williams released her novel Midnight Ballerina in 2014.
Is “midnight ballerina” offensive?
“Midnight ballerina” isn’t particularly offensive, but it depends on the context. There’s nothing inherently wrong with being a stripper, but let’s be real–there’s a long-standing stigma attached to stripping as a profession. Some folks can be judgmental and disrespectful toward exotic dancers and probably always will be. C'est la vie. Coming from a person like that, sure, “midnight ballerina” probably isn’t a compliment. That said, “midnight ballerina” is a rather cutesy term. A truly judgmental person would no doubt use harsher language if they were trying to be rude. For the most part, when people use the phrase “midnight ballerina,” it’s in a fun, lighthearted, and even positive way. Many strippers refer to themselves as “midnight ballerinas,” especially online. For example, TikToker @waifu.tsubaki shares this video where she talks about things she’s learned by being a midnight ballerina.
Similar TikTok Euphemisms
TikTokers use many clever euphemisms to get around algorithms. Social media platforms like TikTok monitor content, and if you’re caught posting about anything too explicit, especially things about sexual activity and sex work, they could potentially ban your account. To get around that, users have come up with a coded language to discuss what they want without penalty. Here are a few algospeak code words popular on TikTok: Accountant: An “accountant” is someone who does sex work. This could mean pornography, OnlyFans, stripping, and/or other jobs in the field. SW: An abbreviation for “sex work.” Skripping/skrippa: Refers to stripping and being a stripper. It’s common to see hashtags like #skrippertok and #skriptok, indicating there’s a whole online community around stripping culture. Seggs: Stands for “sex.”
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