Lucia Gorman, the internet sensation who rose to fame as the face behind the ‘Bored Nightclub Girl’ meme in 2018, has returned to the spotlight after seven years. The iconic image of Lucia looking bored at Milk Club Edinburgh while being whispered to by a friend became a viral sensation, circulating millions of times online and solidifying its place in digital culture history. Now, at the age of 24, Lucia has re-emerged by recreating some of the internet’s favourite memes, including Harry Maguire’s ‘Put the Bins Out’ and the relatable ‘Confused Math Lady’.
In a collaborative project with Samsung, Lucia is promoting the Best Face technology featured in the new Galaxy A56 5G phone. This cutting-edge technology utilises artificial intelligence to rectify common photographic blunders such as closed eyes or unflattering facial expressions in group photos. Lucia’s recreated images showcase various typical photo mishaps, from blinking and awkward faces when saying “cheese” to people blocking each other in the frame. A survey of 2,000 smartphone users revealed that on average, individuals spend 468 minutes per year editing, filtering, and retouching images to achieve the perfect shot.
Gen Z, in particular, is known to take around eight attempts to capture an ideal photo before sharing it on social media. Selfies, group photos, and shots taken on theme park rides were identified as the most common scenarios for photo editing. A significant 38% of people expressed annoyance when they were the only one not looking good in a photo, but nearly half would still post a group picture if they looked good even if a friend didn’t. Interestingly, 21% avoid taking group photos altogether, and a staggering 84% have deleted a picture due to dissatisfaction with their appearance or the image quality before sharing it online.
The study also highlighted that almost half of the participants frequently crop friends out of their photos, with a quarter admitting to even cropping themselves out before posting. Additionally, 32% have staged candid photos for a more natural look, with Gen Z leading the trend at 69%, followed by millennials, Gen X, and Boomers. Annika Bizon from Samsung emphasised the importance of effortlessly capturing and sharing life’s special moments, noting that individuals spend a substantial amount of time editing photos. Samsung’s goal is to empower users to capture their best shots efficiently, allowing them to focus on enjoying cherished moments without the need for extensive editing.
Lucia’s comeback as a meme recreation artist in collaboration with Samsung not only showcases her humour and creativity but also sheds light on the evolving digital photography landscape. By addressing common photo blunders and offering solutions through advanced technology, Samsung aims to simplify the photo-capturing process for users, enabling them to capture and share memorable moments effortlessly. Lucia’s journey from meme star to advocate for seamless photography encapsulates the intersection of technology, digital culture, and viral trends in today’s interconnected world.