Utah artist made a fake tattoo profile to stalk her ex. Then strangers started booking — now it’s Google’s top-rated studio
Turns out she was a natural at it, and Pernilla wasted no time transforming a breakup-induced stalking into a full-time career
We've all heard of creating a burner account to keep tabs on an ex, but one creator took social media lurking to a whole new level. When trying to get insights on an ex after a breakup, she created a fake Instagram profile that was supposed to be just a clever disguise. To make the page look legitimate, she even posted pictures on the stories and feed. What started as a sneaky way to check on an ex quickly took an unexpected turn that no one saw coming. The viral story was shared by Pernilla (@whitewasptattoo) on August 30, 2026, gaining over 35,800 likes and 260 comments.
A secret account goes viral
The initial plan was simple: build a fake tattoo artist profile that doesn't look suspicious. At first, everything went smoothly and was a total success. But the internet had other plans, and the account started attracting potential customers who genuinely loved the tattoos posted on the profile. It started to get tons of likes, comments, and direct messages asking about tattoo appointments and pricing.
From a stalker to an artist
Realizing she had unexpected demand, the creator decided to stop stalking their ex and become a full-time tattoo artist. She took the surprise popularity seriously, bought a tattoo machine from Amazon, completed official training and certification, and started practicing on friends. Turns out she was a natural at it, and quickly transformed a breakup-induced stalking into a full-time career.
A female tattoo artist (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Mayara Caroline Mombelli)When social media shapes a career
This unexpected change in career plans reflects a major shift in how young people are turning online platforms into real careers. According to a global survey that Dewalt and WorldSkills International published in Glass Magazine, 44% of youth are inspired by social media to pursue their career path, with 42% motivated by a desire to start their own business. Goldman Sachs Research projects the creator economy to reach $480 billion by 2027.
She 'absolutely stumbled into her calling'
The comment section quickly flooded with a mix of shock, humor, and awe over the unexpected plot twist. Instagram user @disneyscoopguy commented, "How funny would it have been if the tattoo reveals were all awful?" Others praised her raw skill, with viewers pointing out that she "absolutely stumbled into her calling" and praising the impressive level of talent.
More on Scoop Upworthy
Dad's powerful 'promise' protected his daughter all her life — so she got it tattooed as a tribute
Share on Facebook
