When Shelby Pagan got in a car accident almost a year ago, she wasn’t planning on going viral––and all it took was a selfie. According to Cosmopolitan, the 25-year-old suffered a cervical strain, head laceration, closed head injury, and knee contusion. After she was rushed to the emergency room, Shelby sent a selfie to her mom to signal that she was okay, which she later posted on Instagram.
In the photo, most of her makeup has been smudged by tears, except her eyeliner. Shelby’s friends began to notice the fact that through all of the car accident-related trauma, her Kat Von D Tattoo Liner had truly lived up to its name. Later, Shelby took to the product site to write a review:
It reads, “This product is truly amazing. June 28th I was pulled over in my car calling for roadside assistance when a distracted driver hit me going 55mph. I was taken via ambulance to the ER where I remained for 8 hours. My mascara was running down my face from crying and all other products had been wiped off in the transfer to the hospital. But not my tattoo eyeliner. I am posting a pick [sic] to show you, this product lasts and looks amazing through anything. Never buying any other liner again”
She included her photo, and, as they say, the rest is history.
Y’all I was really out here looking for a new eyeliner and look at this review lmfaooo
She deadass took a picture in her neck brace I am deceasedpic.twitter.com/j9jHjAei06— lahari (@guadalahari) April 24, 2018
After her review went viral, she received some heat for posting the photo online. She clapped back on Twitter:
Everyone’s hating on my review because I posted a picture of the makeup after the accident:
1. I took the photo for police evidence
2. But have you ever seen such a good eyeliner?!….you’re welcome@KATVONDbeauty https://t.co/W34AWrCFOd
— Shelby (@catsandcusswrds) April 25, 2018
“I posted the selfie to my Instagram to tell my story and for weeks after people were messaging me and asking me how my makeup still looked so good post accident,” Shelby writes to Cosmopolitan, “So I decided to review it on Kat’s website. As funny as it is, I thought it would make a good review because I know I look for products that stay put. I thought the review would help others.”
And help us, she did. We certainly know what long-wear eyeliner to buy from now on. Just, uh, be ready to sweat trying to remove it.