Ahegao is a term used in Japanese pornography to describe an exaggerated facial expression of characters (usually females) during sexual arousal or orgasms. It typically involves a pair of rolling or crossed eyes, a protruding tongue and a slightly reddened face to indicate enjoyment or ecstasy. It is commonly used in erotic manga, anime (hentai) and video games. It gained prominence in the Western world after it was used in a series of images that circulated on the internet by hentai artist Hirame in 2015.
A wiki page defines camgirl ahegao as “an exaggerated expression involving flushed cheeks, rolled back or crossed eyes, and a hanging tongue – intended to portray an orgasm.” While ahegao has been used in sexy erotic manga and anime since the 1960s, it only began spreading throughout the Internet last decade thanks to the popularity of hentai on sites such as 4chan and Fakku.
While ahegao is often associated with sex, it can also be portrayed in non-erotic scenarios. This is largely because women who are into ahegao tend to have an overly enthusiastic reaction to anything that they consider mildly enjoyable. For this reason, the expression has become a popular symbol of pleasure culture and is now widely used in non-erotic contexts such as cosplay and selfies.
The popularity of ahegao is tied to the greater mainstream interest in things that are often perceived as “nerdy” or “geek,” such as anime and video games. Previously, these interests were seen as signs of a shallow and socially stunted mindset. However, as the Internet became more widely used, people with these interests have gained more acceptance within society and have been able to spread their love of nerdy culture further.
As the popularity of ahegao has increased, so too have the number of camgirls who engage in the practice. These individuals are online video performers who make a living from promoting their ahegao-related content to a predominantly male audience. As a result, these women have developed a specific set of traits and behaviors that distinguish them from regular girls.
In addition to displaying their ahegao-related videos, these camgirls typically interact with their audience through Discord calls and Twitch streams. They speak in a high-pitched and babyish voice, wear revealing clothing, and use emojis that are associated with sex.
This ahegao-centered behavior and aesthetic are at the root of the rise of E-Girls. While it is not uncommon for women to indulge in sexy or sensual activities in their personal lives, the E-Girls that are gaining prominence are engaging in these activities exclusively on the Internet.
While the popularity of ahegao is unsurprising, there are many that still find this trend disturbing. It is not only considered sexist and misogynistic to glorify the loss of self-control during a climax, but it can also lead to sexual harassment and even abuse. In order to reduce the occurrence of this type of behavior, it is important that both men and women educate themselves on the importance of consent.