Zoolander as a Mermaid in Commercial

Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) saying “water is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty” during a scene from the 2001 film Zoolander.

This Ben Stiller GIF is perfect for reactions to ridiculous situations, strange fashion moments, or completely random humor online.

Ben Stiller’s performance as Derek Zoolander turned the dim-witted male model into one of the most recognizable comedy characters of the early 2000s. Derek’s intense seriousness about ridiculous situations, distinctive poses, and confidently delivered misunderstandings produced many of the film’s most memorable quotes.

Zoolander became a cult comedy through its exaggerated satire of the fashion industry and memorable characters played by Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, and Christine Taylor. Scenes like Derek asking “What is this? A center for ants?” and insisting that he’s a “merman” helped give the film a collection of quotes that remain popular online.

Zoolander reaction GIFs remain popular because absurd comedy scenes are memorable, highly quotable, and easy to turn into memes.