Sara Smith didn’t expect to leave Ole Miss’ Week 1 football game against Louisville as a viral sensation, but her concerned look captured by the ESPN broadcast on Sunday, September 6, sent fans flocking to her social media profiles.
“Let’s go through my favorite DMs over the last 24 hours,” Smith began in a video shared via TikTok on Monday, September 7.
She then showed the first message, which read, “God fearing. 6’1. 260. Business owner. 500K take home annual.”
“Thank you for the credentials,” Smith responded.
The second DM read: “Going to Whole Foods, want me to pick up anything?”
“Another good one. I’ve never gotten this before,” Smith said. “But I love Whole Foods though.”
Other DMs included a user saying “bankrupt me,” another writing, “Let’s make a 👶” and one who said, “I can save you! Don’t be so sad beautiful.”
“I don’t think you can save me from what this football season is about to look like,” she replied.
Smith’s viral moment came after a third quarter Louisville touchdown, bringing the Cardinals to within two points of her Rebels. ESPN cameras caught her looking concerned, with her arms raised over her head (“Your armpits are so overrated,” read one of the DMs she shared, a take with which she agreed.)
X account Campus Cuties later identified her as Smith, sending a torrent of messages to her Instagram account, which has been set to private. Her bio says she is an Ole Miss alum.
While some of her suitors offered to buy her expensive bags (Smith prefers Louis Vuitton) or told her she looks like “nacreous clouds” (Google it), one bold fan was decidedly more long-winded.
“I’ve seen and admired countless, absolutely stunning and pretty women,” they wrote. “I’ve been completely taken aback by their beauty and charm, wondering how could someone be so freaking beautiful.”
The DM continued, “But today I came across your picture at that game on Twitter. It took me a few seconds and checking a few comments to realize that you weren’t AI generated. You are an actual, living, breathing human being.”
Smith did not share the entire message, but it went on to call her an “absolute goddess” and “without a shadow of a doubt” the “most beautiful person.”
To Smith’s relief, Ole Miss closed out the 41-38 Week 1 win thanks to a Lucas Carneiro field goal as time expired. It was the first regular season game under head coach Pete Golding after Lane Kiffin’s shocking exit before the College Football Playoff last season.
