Several months ago on our sister site, The Ticking Tabloid, I professed my unironic appreciation for one Paris Hilton. While so many people have a misplaced hatred for the princesses of 21st century America, I adore them in all of their postmodern glory. That's why I'm taking this opportunity today to crown the individual I believe is most deserving of the title Princess of the Internet.

On September 10th, 2007 the world changed forever. With running mascara and two-toned hair, Chris Crocker implored the world to grant clemency to pop diva Britney Spears. Spears happened to be going through a particularly difficult period of her life, the attentions once turned to her musical stardom a decade prior having latched onto her tabloid-ready exploits without relent. Britney had but one defender, a passionate transsexual who communicated via youtube.

Since that fateful day, "Leave Britney Alone" has been viewed nearly 26 million times. It has been parodied to the point of exhaustion and it made an unintentional star of its creator. Most prominent in my mind is how that particular meme was the first I'd ever seen covered by a major news organization. I frequented a sub shop in my college town that had CNN on the TV all day. In between stock reports and the occasional glance at some junior senator from Illinois no one ever heard from again, those paragons of journalistic integrity at the Cable News Network did a five-minute piece on Miss Chris.

Since then, Princess Crocker has made many, many more videos, several of which I believe are of much higher quality than the one that made Our Lady famous. Take for instance one of my personal favorites, an artful early promotion of hair extensions and optimist philosophy known as "The Hairflip". Like all great Internet videos it takes its charm from being poorly thought-out and running twice as long as it ought to. And yet, there's something about it that's transcendent.

So, what leads me to love Miss Chris instead of making fun of him/her? Well, this for a start. Behind all the theatrics and goofing around is a kind of artistry in the long tradition of High Camp. Chris Crocker is an individual beyond imagination. John Waters has spent his entire career trying to create Our Lady, but we got her thanks to the serendipitous confluence of the Internet, New Gay Media, and the dubious nature of the water in the state of California.

So, it is with great honor and not the least bit of snark that I crown Miss Chris Crocker, youtube star extraordinaire, The Princess of All Internet. And here's an AKS Seal of Approval to make it official.

For her unique contributions to the Internet and its image in the world, I hereby grant Chris Crocker of the youtube channel itschriscrocker the official Net Insanity AK Smile Seal of Approval. Miss Chris has shown a consistent pattern of selfless community service and willingness above and beyond the status quo to entertain and inform. Without irony or mockery, we salute this one-of-kind individual.