In 2018, a photograph taken during a student night out at the Bourbon nightclub in Edinburgh inadvertently captured the essence of the student clubbing experience, leading to the creation of the now-iconic "bored nightclub girl" meme. The image showcases an 18-year-old Patrick Ritchie animatedly conversing with a young woman, Lucia Gorman, whose expression conveyed a mix of exasperation and disinterest as she appeared eager to escape the one-sided dialogue.
The moment, which resonated with many people, especially those familiar with the late-night club scene, quickly gained traction on social media. Patrick, now 24 and working as a graduate commercial surveyor, recounted his experience with the viral photo in an interview with the Mail Online. He acknowledged his lack of memory regarding the specifics of his conversation with Lucia, noting, "We were in a big group and I must have spoken to her five, ten, fifteen times that night. I can't really remember what I said so it must have been a good night."
He first became aware of the photograph the day after it circulated online and initially did not think anyone would recognise him. Despite the image being frequently interpreted as an example of 'mansplaining', Patrick clarified that he and Lucia are actually long-time friends who have shared laughter over the moment. "My family laughed probably when they saw it," he remarked, recalling the time when he was just beginning his nightlife journey.
Lucia, now an assistant brand manager at Premier Foods, also expressed her thoughts on why the photo struck a chord with so many, particularly among women. "I feel like a lot of women in the world probably really understand," she told Joe. “While he wasn’t being horrible, I think girls in clubs get the brunt of men just explaining things that you don’t need to hear.”
Reflecting on the viral moment, Lucia confessed that she now finds it difficult to recreate the expression that became synonymous with her internet fame. "I really struggle to do the face that I was doing in it," she commented, adding that even though it appeared staged, she had been completely caught off guard. "I can try but I just prefer to smile," she added, amusingly suggesting that perhaps she should have Patrick recreate the moment with her again.
Both Patrick and Lucia continue to bump into each other and look back fondly at the unexpected fame brought about by a single photo taken on a night out.
Source: Noah Wire Services