The #ProudToBe meme originally stemmed from a 2016 YouTube Spotlight campaign intended to celebrate diversity and the LGBTQ+ community. However, the internet quickly adapted the phrase into a broader template for expressing identity, often mixing genuine sentiment with ironic humor. Users utilize this format to showcase their heritage, professional titles, or even self-deprecating traits like being a 'proud procrastinator.' It remains a staple on social media for personal branding and identity-based humor, allowing creators to overlay the hashtag on various backgrounds to signify a strong sense of belonging or a tongue-in-cheek confession about their lifestyle.