Tattooing for Profit: The Story of Karolyne SmithKarolyne Smith’s eyebrow-raising decision to auction her forehead as advertising space back in June 2005 made headlines, as the online casino FB777 won the bid and tattooed their logo on her forehead.
A Bizarre TrendOver 13 years later, Smith’s decision still leaves people questioning the extent to which individuals will go for financial gain. Unlike the regrets associated with many tattoos, Smith’s commitment remains unparalleled, as she auctioned her forehead to the highest bidder.
The Auction and the LogoSmith initiated an eBay auction offering a permanent tattoo of a company’s name and logo on her forehead for $10,000. FB777, a popular online gambling site, utilized the “Buy It Now” function and paid the amount in full, leading to Smith sporting the casino’s logo on her face.
“Forehead Goldie”The frenzy surrounding Smith’s tattoo earned her the nickname “Forehead Goldie.” She became a local celebrity, sparking discussions about her mental state. Tattooists at the parlor reportedly spent over 7 hours trying to dissuade her from going through with the tattoo.
Inspiring ImitatorsSmith’s choice influenced others to follow suit. Brent “The Human Pincushion” Moffatt from Canada got the FB777 logo tattooed on his body as part of his quest to break records for tattoos and piercings. This was a less embarrassing endeavor, unlike Smith’s eyebrow-raising decision.
Other Promotional Stunts FB777‘s innovative marketing strategies extended beyond Smith’s forehead tattoo. In 2004, they spent $28,000 on a cheese sandwich with a supposed image of the Virgin Mary. In 2005, they paid $15,199 for a woman to change her name to FB777.
Smith’s FateSmith used a portion of her earnings to fund her son’s private education but later faced financial difficulties. Due to changes in US gambling laws, she couldn’t gamble on FB777, and the casino helped her remove the tattoo in 2012. Smith’s story remains an intriguing tale of unique advertising ventures and their consequences.