Dating can feel like a performance sometimes. Perfect photos, carefully crafted bios, and endless small talk that doesn’t feel like you. But Gen Z is quietly rewriting the rules with a trend that’s as funny as it is freeing: Shrekking.
Yes, it’s named after the green ogre from the Shrek movies. Why? Because Shrek was never polished, never perfect—and yet, he found love by being unapologetically himself. Shrekking takes that lesson into the dating world: stop hiding your quirks and start leading with them.
Instead of obsessing over filters or curating the “perfect” profile, people are showing up as their real, sometimes awkward, always authentic selves. Maybe it’s admitting you eat cereal for dinner three nights a week. Maybe it’s showing your obsession with memes, or laughing too loudly at your own jokes. In Shrekking, those so-called flaws aren’t things to cover up—they’re your superpowers.
And it’s working. Couples who “Shrek” together often find that conversations feel lighter, funnier, and more genuine. There’s no pressure to impress with fake perfection. Instead, the bond comes from honesty, humor, and that strange comfort of knowing, “I can be my weird self around this person.”
The beauty of Shrekking is that it lowers the stakes. You’re not auditioning for love—you’re just showing up as you are. And if someone sticks around after seeing the unfiltered, slightly messy version of you, then maybe that’s the real deal.
At the heart of it, Shrekking isn’t just a dating trend—it’s a reminder that love doesn’t have to look like a glossy Instagram highlight reel. Sometimes, it looks like laughing at each other’s bad dance moves, bonding over pineapple-on-pizza debates, or admitting that you secretly rewatch cartoons.
Because in the end, the right person won’t just tolerate your quirks. They’ll love you because of them. And that’s the real magic of Shrekking.