Back in 2018, an 18-year-old social media personality sparked a wave of controversy. People across various social platforms were inundated with posts from Victora Rose Waldrip, commonly known as @imwoahvicky on Instagram.
Originally recognized for sharing prank videos and popular challenges on Youtube, the young influencer suddenly attracted attention for claiming to be a black woman.
An Infamous Debut
One look at Woah Vicky would immediately reveal that she is a Caucasian woman.
However, in 2017, she asserted that a DNA test from ancestry.com indicated that she had approximately 44% African heritage.
Subsequently, Vicky declared in a now-deleted tweet that she now “identified as black” and began incorporating the n-word into her videos.
She also started using darker makeup to change her complexion and added overlined lips to complete the alleged transformation.
Aside from being highly offensive, numerous social media users were disturbed by her imitation of African American vernacular, considering it a serious issue among younger influencers.
By the summer of 2018, she had gained prominence and amassed around 2 million Instagram followers – a platform she quickly began to capitalize on.
According to Mic.com, Vicky and her team were untroubled by the criticism. “The hate, of course, brought her a lot of negative attention,” said Vicky’s executive assistant, Kennedy C., “which eventually led people to appreciate the person she was becoming instead of who she was initially.”
Who Is Woah Vicky?
The 20-year-old currently commands a following of 3.1 million on Instagram, all deeply intrigued by a woman who abruptly opted to transform her racial identity.
Controversy undeniably breeds popularity, and Woah Vicky was no exception to this rule.
The influencer originates from Atlanta, Georgia, and is the daughter of real estate tycoon and home building business proprietor Steve Waldrip.
Her fame on Instagram surged further after celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Chief Keef reposted images of her flaunting luxury attire.
Her elder sister, Stephanie, has a following of her own. A proficient fashion designer who graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design, she introduced her collection in 2012 and has been commissioned to design garments for celebrities such as Gigi Hadid and Lady Gaga.
Vicky has mentioned that the ten-year age gap means she and her sister are not particularly close.
Woah Vicky’s Music Career
Her first immensely viral video marked the beginning of a series of controversies for the influencer.
There seems to be a recurring pattern in the ascension of content creators, often commencing with someone publicly ‘exposing’ them.
Vicky has been no exception in this regard, which has worked in her favor regarding her online presence.
In August 2017, Youtuber RiceGum posted a video expressing his disapproval of her, which only added to the tumult.
The subsequent month, Vicky unveiled her most notable rap video, in which she directly confronted the Youtuber’s ethnicity.
Her diss track stirred so much controversy that she issued a public apology (subsequently deleted): “I actually really love Asians, and I actually find Asian guys attractive, so… so.. so… if you’re an Asian guy and you find me attractive, please DM me right now,” she expressed.
Despite the backlash, she has released multiple music videos and exhibits no inclination to refrain from appropriating black culture into her online persona.
Her Brush with the Law
A video of Woah Vicky being apprehended went viral in February 2018.
Per The Daily Mail, she was apprehended for trespassing at the Four Seasons Town Centre Mall in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Vicky faced charges of trespassing, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest.
According to police reports, she had numerous opportunities to leave after being detained by mall security but commenced kicking an officer.
During the scuffle, Vicky and her companions began shouting “shots fired,” prompting false fears of an active shooter. Police confirmed this to be untrue.
She was released the following day, but not before posting a photo of her mugshot with the caption “#freevicky.”
Vicky’s Feud With Bhad Bhabie
Prior to Woah Vicky adopting a black identity, the world knew the “cash me ousside, how ’bout that?” sensation, Bhad Bhabie.
Bhad Bhabie, also known as Danielle Brigoli, was among the influencers whose use of appropriation propelled them to internet stardom.
Brigoli ventured into a successful rap career after appearing on Dr. Phil, even securing a nomination for a Billboard Music Award.
The two influencers crossed paths at a recording studio and engaged in a physical altercation, which was recorded by Youtuber DJ Akademiks.
Later that year, the two girls were involved in another scuffle at Coachella, though the reason remains unknown.
Many Twitter users construed it as a publicity stunt to maintain the public’s interest in both influencers. Others perceived it as a strategy to promote their respective rap videos.
Her Role In The Attention Economy
Most of her detractors agree that her behavior is attention-seeking, a common characteristic among controversial social media influencers.
Isra Ali, a clinical assistant professor of media, culture, and communication at New York University, describes this as the “attention economy,” defining it as: “In the attention economy, there is no value except how many people follow you, like you, how many eyeballs are on you… how able you are not just to get attention, but to sustain it over a period of time.”
She notes that participation in this emerging economy does not hinge on whether the behavior is offensive, but rather on the significant attention it garners online. “Things that once would have tarnished one’s reputation are now considered assets,” Ali adds.
This is evident in the fact that very young influencers like Woah Vicky consider it customary to showcase luxury items they have attained on public platforms, demonstrating to their followers that it is achievable through both positive and negative publicity.
