Oh Me, Oh My

Photo by Amanda Carlson

A butterfly begins life as an unassuming caterpillar and then changes into a vibrant butterfly seemingly overnight. Chrissy Chlapecka went through a similar metamorphosis as she transformed from a college student struggling with her identity to a pink-haired, self-proclaimed bimbo dominating TikTok’s algorithm.

“Right when we’d locked down for COVID, I was in a really horrible, abusive relationship and obviously wasn’t myself in any aspect—I’d really lost a sense of whatever self I even had,” Chlapecka says. “I remember going back home from college and being like, ‘What am I doing?’ I feel like when everyone had that time off, we all kind of stared at ourselves and faced all the things that were going wrong. I had broken up with my abuser and it was like I’d shed this skin that was so untrue to who I was. From there, I was like a blank slate and I could form into the person I’ve always wanted to be.”

Prior to officially breaking the chains that bound her, Chlapecka began hinting a change was soon to come. She hadn’t the faintest idea of what she was getting herself into, but she opened Pandora’s box upon getting her first tattoo. “I was still in that relationship and I was getting to the point where I wanted to do something for myself,” Chlapecka says. “I was in my friend’s dorm and she was like, ‘Do you want to go get a tattoo today?’ I had never thought I’d be a person who’s covered in a million tattoos and I’ve always been terrified of needles, but I was like, ‘You know what, I’m feeling risky.’”

Chlapecka’s first tattoo is the phrase “Divine Feminine” on her ribs, which alludes to her embrace of femininity and rejection of patriarchy. Soon after getting her first tattoo, Chlapecka began posting videos to TikTok as a way to pass the time. Not long after her first post, Chlapecka went viral and she dove headfirst into the platform by showcasing her true self to millions. People flocked to Chlapecka’s exuberant disposition and she gained confidence in expressing her authenticity.

Today, Chlapecka has not only shed her metaphorical chrysalis, she’s spread her wings further than she even thought possible. She’s become known as the sociopolitical bimbo of TikTok, and she continues to create content centered on self-love, bisexual pride and sexual liberation. She’s allowed herself, and by extension her nearly 5 million followers, the freedom to be their loudest and proudest selves.This ethos is also expressed through her now expansive tattoo collection.

What began with a small script on her ribs has developed to a constantly expanding constellation of tattoos. “Divine Feminine” acted as a catalyst and since then Chlapecka has expounded on this theme with pieces that showcase her evolution and greater understanding of self.

“I think there is a meaning behind whatever tattoo I get,” Chlapecka says. “I have six butterflies tattooed on me currently and I didn’t think they meant anything until now. Thinking about it, they’re kind of like freedom for me. But I don’t even know how getting tattooed got to this point, it just became something almost spiritual. Every tattoo is just another story about who I was that day when I got it or what it could mean in years to come. I’m not going to stop either, I’m fully ready to be covered.”

Chlapecka is on an upward trajectory and shows no signs of slowing down. Not only has she experienced incredible personal growth, she’s become one of the most recognizable LGBTQ+ creators on the platform and has hit milestone after milestone. Now, Chlapecka is preparing for her next big chapter, which will come as no surprise to her Day One fans.

“I’ve wanted to do music and be this little pop star forever,” Chlapecka says. “It’s been my dream since I was just a baby girl and doing it now is just the most incredible feeling. I’m having the time of my life and I’m currently working on songs with my producer almost every day now. I’m hoping to release some singles in the next couple of months and I’m so excited to share this other really vulnerable part of me with my audience. My music embodies me now, but it also embodies me as a child and me during my teenage years. It’s really the storybook of my life.”

After her first video went viral, many in the comments section began comparing her speaking voice to that of pop star Ariana Grande. Little did they know at the time, Chlapecka had been singing for years and had the pipes to take her likeness to the next level. She began impersonating Grande, mimicking the songstress’ signature soprano voice and even nailing the whistle register—which singers like Grande, Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey have mastered. Chlapecka will still be paying homage to the pop divas who paved the way, but more so she’s come into her own with her own sound.

“My brand as a musician is very similar to the brand I have on TikTok,” Chlapecka says. “I just want to be a little pop star party girl and that’s kind of the vibe I’m giving. I’m obviously very heavily influenced by Slayyyter, as well as Rebecca Black, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. Be in for the ride, because it’s going to be fun, poppy and exciting.”

Chlapecka may be known for her larger-than-life personality, flamboyant outfits and deep-seated appreciation for boobs; however, she also intends to use her music to show how far she’s come. “I want my music to reflect back and pay tribute to the girl I was in high school, because she really needed a big hug,” Chlapecka says. “I want to give her a big hug within my music and let her know things are OK—we get past those hard moments that we’ve been through. It’s really still in the works, but I guess that’s the best way I can describe what I’m doing right now. I think it will be really relatable to a lot of people who’ve had to find themselves all by themselves.”

Chlapecka may have a musical theater background, a team behind her and millions of diehard fans ready to gobble up her singles, but she’s still very much a rookie. She’s taking every new experience as it comes and learning about becoming a better musician day-by-day. “Honestly, it’s OK to write bad songs,” she says. “I have written so many bad songs and my management is like, ‘This isn’t it,’ but it really helps me develop what makes a good song. Making mistakes is how people grow and you’re not a failure if you write a song that sucks. In the same way, right now I could post a video and if it doesn’t go viral, that doesn’t mean I’m a failure either. It’s OK to let yourself be bad and get those thoughts out that aren’t perfect. For me, after I get those bad thoughts out, then I write a song that’s unreal.”

A release date for Chrissy Chlapecka’s debut single has yet to be announced, but when that day comes and her fans get the chance to listen to that song, we know where they’ll be. We also know where Chlapecka will be—in the tattoo chair. “Once I decide what single I want to release, I will definitely get a tattoo to represent it,” she says. “That’s probably going to be one of the happiest days of my entire life. I’m so excited and I want to rush into it, but I know I need to wait and keep working. But like I said, my music is going to encapsulate so many parts of me and so many of the stories I have to tell. I am definitely leaving room for a very big dedication piece to the first song that I drop.”