A video vixen (also referred to as a hip hop honey or video girl) is a female model who appears in hip hop-oriented music videos. The video vixen image has become a staple in popular music, especially within the genre of hip hop. The video vixen came around in the late 80s when hip-hop began to break off into its own lifestyle. It popularized in American culture during the 90s and early 00s. Many video vixens are aspiring actors, singers, dancers, or professional models. Women from various cultures have been portrayed either as fragile, manipulative, fetishistic, or submissive within contemporary music lyrics, videos, concert and movie soundtracks. Artists and vixens have been criticized for allegedly contributing to the social degradation of black women.