You’ve seen her face — a young girl flashing a chillingly calm smile as flames devour a house behind her . It became one of the internet’s most unforgettable memes. But what if we told you... the real story is nothing like what you've imagined? 

 

 

Her name is Zoe Roth, and in 2005, she was just 4 years old — a curious bystander at a controlled house fire in North Carolina, set ablaze by firefighters during a training drill . The home was empty. No danger. No chaos. Just smoke and opportunity.

Her father, Dave Roth, an amateur photographer with a sharp eye and perfect timing, captured the moment — and with it, internet history. He asked little Zoe to smile. She did. And just like that, the world met the now-legendary "Disaster Girl" .

 

As the meme exploded, Zoe became a digital icon — her serene smirk photoshopped into every imaginable catastrophe . But rather than run from her unexpected fame, Zoe embraced it. She took control of her image in a world where few do .

 

Years later, Zoe — now in her 20s — made a powerful move. She turned the meme into an NFT, selling it for nearly half a million dollars . The proceeds? Used to fund her education, support her family, and contribute to charity

Today, she reflects on it all with grace, humor, and pride. From meme to movement, Zoe Roth transformed a fleeting viral moment into something deeply meaningful.

 Source: The New York Times, April 2021

“Zoe Roth, the ‘Disaster Girl,’ Sells Her Meme as an NFT”