A woman who became an internet sensation as part of the viral 'party scene' meme has spoken about the downsides of online fame. Avery Wagner, now 33, was a college student when she appeared in a skit video that was uploaded to YouTube in 2012. A still from the clip, showing Wagner and her friends staring awkwardly at the camera with red cups, became a widely used meme.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Wagner said the attention was 'rough' at first due to negative comments about her appearance. She endured online bullying, with some calling her the 'only ugly girl in the video', which led to anxiety. 'It took me years to be able to look at it without cringing,' she admitted.
However, 13 years on, Wagner has made peace with her viral fame. She now finds humour in it and is proud to be considered 'internet royalty'. The experience gave her a unique perspective on social media, which she uses in her career running a boutique social media agency called Wagner Perspective.
'It's funny that one split-second reaction in 2012 has lived on the internet for more than a decade,' she said. Wagner now sees the meme as a fun party trick and a foreshadowing of her future in digital media.
