LONDON -- For those who say all teenagers are apathetic about politics, we give you #milifandom.
That was one of the top trending hashtags in the UK Tuesday evening as teenagers threw their support behind the current leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband, declaring him an unlikely heartthrob.
Fandoms are usually fixated with things like One Direction, Benedict Cumberbatch, Teen Wolf or Game of Thrones, making the Miliband one unusual.
Ed Beckham by @superhamps #Milifandom #CoolEdMiliband pic.twitter.com/8t9l6O8uPX— Cool Ed Miliband (@cooledmiliband) April 21, 2015
Milifandom first surfaced on Twitter back in June 2014.
A great bit of Milifandom from @David_K_Clark at @ShiftingGrounds http://t.co/cKyhDIZ3w5— Tom Sadler (@tsadler2) June 27, 2014
But it was 17-year-old, self-confessed Milifan and Labour Party member Abby who is studying for her A-levels that got #milifandom going.
She usually tweets to her more than 11,000 followers about Avengers star Tom Hiddleston, but has increasingly been tweeting about the election and one leader in particular who would get her vote. If she could vote.
Spokesperson for the Milifandom here— abby (@twcuddleston) April 21, 2015
David Cameron doesn't think I deserve the vote because I'm 17. I started the #milifandom campaign to show how powerful young people are.— abby (@twcuddleston) April 21, 2015
"After seeing Ed on the TV debates I noticed how passionate and devoted he was. And I thought "this can't be the same guy the media says he is" and I noticed that he is often very distorted in the media - and it makes me angry," Abby told Huffington Post UK.
For some it may have started out as a joke, according to Buzzfeed.
this started as a fucking joke and now look what's happened #milifandom— chiara (@imyourlionheart) April 21, 2015
But it gained traction quickly and Miliband had a fandom.
//ED MILIBAND HAS A FANDOM #milifandom #MilibandMustWin #VoteLabour pic.twitter.com/AEdpJLUDQT— THE DOCTOR (@doctorfez1) April 20, 2015
#MilibandMustWin #milifandom pic.twitter.com/0Xymzy2oUJ— luc [PB] (@luceee_hall) April 21, 2015
Momentum started gathering Tuesday night.
The real question is, who isn't a part of the #milifandom? #BaeMiliband pic.twitter.com/Euu1XRxkvt— shae. (@annamariiax) April 21, 2015
When you ain't see bae in a while #milifandom pic.twitter.com/PNuMedsFiF— Aidan Kerr (@Aidan_Kerr1) April 21, 2015
#Milifandom ed used to look a bit like Harry Potter pic.twitter.com/6bhjUdjGC5— ash miliband (@SPRINGTRAPHAN) April 21, 2015
It has even led to this.
And this.
We're after the watershed so I'm breaking out the x-rated #milifandom pics pic.twitter.com/ZRKEKP8Bo1— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) April 21, 2015
Milibanter ... not to mention #Milibae started gaining traction.
So much Milibanter tonight #Labour— legolas trash (@JohnlockedHell) April 20, 2015
omg I'd give anything to be @lilyallen in this pic! :'( #milibae #milifandom pic.twitter.com/rUSt9No1SB— Ed Milibae (@MilibaeEd) April 21, 2015
The UK deserves #milibae pic.twitter.com/JWS1Jr0kKL— Daniel Tierney (@tiernagekicks) April 21, 2015
Happy Warrior #milifandom #milibae pic.twitter.com/0XNN1mDjvN— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) April 21, 2015
Miliband, clearly chuffed about his new fandom, responded to Abby Thursday morning.
@twcuddleston Hi Abby - Delighted that you’ve joined Labour, welcome.— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) April 22, 2015
@twcuddleston It’s good to hear young people who care about politics speaking up for the things they believe in.— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) April 22, 2015
@twcuddleston There’s a lot at stake at this election for young people. I hope more young people will join you & get involved. #VoteLabour— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) April 22, 2015
David Cameron, meanwhile, can only dream.
'I want a fandom...' #milifandom pic.twitter.com/fRItk6FYH0— Olly (@WorldOfOlly) April 21, 2015
There have been attempts by some to start #cameronettes. But in the words of Regina George ...
Stop trying to make #Cameronettes happen. It's not going to happen https://t.co/jYVmEiGFU2 #Milifandom @lewis_goodall pic.twitter.com/Sy5h5bBZzm— Leila Molana-Allen (@Leila_MA) April 22, 2015