Familiar faces of the internet's most-shared memes: What the 'success kid', 'disaster girl' and 'side-eyeing Chloe' look like now after going viral in the early 2000s

Daily Mail UK ^ | March 10, 2025 | Iwan Stone

[Morgana]

Their faces have become a byword for success, exasperation and drama after their photos were shared across the world.

They say a picture says a thousand words, but in the early 2000s teenagers found that memes could become a new universal language.

Connecting social-media users across the globe, the 'success-kid', 'disaster girl' and 'side-eyeing Chloe' became common fixtures in day-to-day life.

But after the split-second image was captured, the real-lives behind iconic memes rarely leave the shadows of the internet.

And now the childhood-favourites are all grown up - and while you may instantly recognise their internet personas they are able to fly under the radar.

Here, MailOnline has tracked down the social media sensations - but how many do you recognise?

1. Success Kid

[Morgana]

She's not on here but remember the "I can count to potato" girl? She is a down syndrome girl who is now grown up and is a Cosmetologist.

[Craftmore]

TTIUWOP

[Clay Moore]

I wonder about “boo-hoo” girl and the little boy covered with red stains shooting a bird with both hands.

[nwrep]

[Az Joe]

Funny as hell

[nwrep]

[Morgana]

That one is used here daily

[tet68]

I remember...Bunny with a pancake on it’s head.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

That "fire starter" girl still looks creepy. I could believe that she is still a "fire starter".

[Justa]

She writes code. It’s OPs problem when it crashes.

[Poser]

And, of course, Belly Girl!

[Uncle Miltie]

Where did you find that?

Been looking for years …

[simpson96]

That was a fun read. Thanks.

[BradyLS]

Those were the days!

[BradyLS]

There’s a short youtube series that’s kind of a “where are they now?” covering a half-dozen or so people that appeared in/as popular memes.

[ansel12]

This girl always cracks me up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na8Jj24SUM0

[Bikkuri]

Turned into

[Poser]

I saved it for eyewash during the tea party era. I was at the FR convention in DC and spent an afternoon with the regulars across from Walter Reed.

[Deaf Smith]

Interested in Tourist Guy from 9-11 and Looter Guy from Hurricane Katrina.

Do they know they are infamous?

But not Rage Girl (Thought it was a soy boy) from 2016.

[griffin]

YOU!
Bless you Sir!

Belly Girl!!

Have any Zot Kittens??