90+ Million People Watched This Paris Hack – But What She Does After Is Going to Turn Your Stomach. Wait Until You See the Reactions

I love practical tips and tricks that can save me in various situations. Hey! I even share such tips on my site.

But some tricks should never exist! Like the one I am presenting today. Seriously, people should stop using this now!

I thought that after I shared this trick – in fact, a gross hygiene infringement – the lady saying you can clean your underwear in the hotel by using a coffee machine – because, hey, water and soap are so… unpopular and out of reach in a hotel (?!?) – I would never find another topic that would shock me the same way.

And yet, here it is.

I have to say: after I saw it, I had an immediate question: Eating after touching that and not washing your hands?????

And then I looked at how people reacted. And I am sharing their reactions with you too! And the reactions may not be what you expect – at least I was surprised to see some of the comments.

Oh! And this – the trick – is not even the worst part! I couldn’t believe it, but there is something EVEN WORSE!!!

And apparently, doing it once wasn’t enough. In a later video, she does the same thing again at a sporting event. I’ll get to that too. And the comments here were more interesting!!!

But I am getting ahead of myself.

Here is what happened:

An Instagram user (an influencer?) posted a reel from Paris.

And this wasn’t a video that disappeared after a few thousand views. I checked the original reel on August 10, 2026, and it had 90.8 million views.

A city I love! I spent a few days in Paris – and I definitely have to go back to take in the city’s charm again!

The caption? Something harmless:

“Name something better than biting into a fresh baguette with a view of the Eiffel Tower on a sunny Paris Day.

“I bet you can’t.”

Hmm… actually, I can: I would take a croissant with bacon and Swiss cheese any time over a baguette (yes, I discovered this combination in Paris and now I make it at home too!).

But I digress.

It is not the caption, but what she does.

The reel shows her while sitting down. She is in a dress. You do not catch it at first, but she is removing her undies.

Yes.

You read that correctly. She is taking her underwear off.

And they are red.

Really! White dress, red undies.

Here comes the first shocking thing (for me):

The video is filmed from a distance. She is not doing a selfie.

I do not know if she has a tripod or if she is with someone.

Still, if she is with someone, I have to ask: did she tell them what she plans to do?

Didn’t they think for a moment that what she wants to do is not a good idea?

Not to mention everyone looking?

Anyway, the video continues.

She takes her undies and uses them as a scrunchie for her hair – essentially turning them into one of those “tie your hair without a hair tie” hacks you sometimes see online. Yes, the reel is about a hair hack using underwear.

But there is more to it!

Now, as a woman with mid-length hair (sometimes more than that), I totally get wanting to keep it in a ponytail for comfort. Frankly, that is my go-to summer way to wear my hair.

But knowing that I might get too hot to leave my hair free, I always have a scrunchie in my purse or pocket (when I am not using a purse). It is not something that takes me by surprise.

And even if it did – maybe I would forget my scrunchie – I would never dream of using my undies!

And now comes the worst part in my opinion:

As you saw above, her caption is about eating a baguette near the Eiffel Tower. And yes, you can see this Paris landmark in the background.

The setting is beautiful.

But after she touched her undies with both hands, she took the baguette and started eating it.

Yes. Without washing her hands – or even using hand sanitizer.

This grossed me out more than I can say.

And this part isn’t simply about whether someone personally finds the video disgusting. According to the CDC, germs from unwashed hands can get into foods and drinks while people prepare or consume them.

So whatever you think about the hair trick itself, eating immediately afterward without cleaning your hands is definitely not something I would recommend copying.

The Pamela Anderson G-String Hair Trick – But There Is a Big Difference

Now, after I saw this, I wanted to learn more – and see if this was a new trick or not.

And I discovered a short video from an interview Pamela Anderson did for Vogue.

In that video, she mentions that she has a G-string in her purse – and that it is a trick of the trade. She then shows how she can use that pair of undies for her hair.

Yes, this is the Pamela Anderson G-string hair hack.

But I would add something rather important:

That pair is clean. NOT worn – like the one in the Paris video!

And that is a huge difference.

In the video, Pamela Anderson says:

“Don’t know why I have a G-string in my purse, but don’t tell me that you don’t have a scrunchie. This is the trick of the trade. We’re really flashing back to the ’90s. The tousled updo always had a pair of panties in them.”

So I am not saying that the trick does not work. I am saying that there is an enormous difference between pulling a clean item out of your purse and removing the underwear you are currently wearing – and then eating without cleaning your hands.

How People Reacted – From Applause to Discomfort

The reactions to the Paris video were almost as interesting as the video itself.

What stood out immediately was not just the diversity of opinions, but the number of people who either normalized or even celebrated the behavior.

Here is how the responses break down:

1. Shock, Disapproval, and Concern

Some viewers reacted exactly as you might expect – with discomfort, disbelief, or outright criticism:

“Dignity isn’t a thing nowadays?”

“What a world we live in”

“Being honorable would be better”

“This is so attention seeking its a bit embarrassing 😭💀”

“Volgare” (Vulgar)

“Faites ça aux Etats unis si vous voulez, en France on a légèrement plus de dignité, c’est quoi ça ???” (Do this in the United States if you want, in France we have slightly more dignity, what is this???)

“I wouldn’t approve a man taking his pants off to wear them as a scarf… why would you do this 😢?”

These comments focused primarily on the public behavior itself.

2. Humor and Entertainment

A part of the audience didn’t take it seriously at all – they saw it as funny or absurd:

“🤣🤣🤣 Idk why but this is hilarious”

“This is so silly”

“Hahah love it 🤣”

“The looks on those men’s faces are priceless”

And speaking of those men – yes, there are three of them visible nearby in the video.

Their reactions alone are telling. “Puzzled” would be a polite way to describe it. They clearly did not expect what they were witnessing.

3. Approval and Encouragement

Then there were those who actively supported or admired the behavior:

“Queen”

“Mujer que resuelve 🔥” (A woman who finds a solution)

“I think I just found my soul sister💯🙌🏻”

“A woman simple’s gesture is so powerful on men that they’re almost having a heart attack 🫡 Please do more and let life make a natural selection for us queen 🤝”

This was one of the things that surprised me most.

A behavior that some people considered completely inappropriate or unhygienic was, for others, clever, funny or even something worth applauding.

4. Relatability – “I’ve Done This Too”

Possibly the most surprising category: people who said they had done the same thing or could see themselves doing it:

“Jajajaja yo también he hecho eso jajaja 😂” (Hahaha I’ve done that too 😂)

“Done that 😅”

“I could definitely see myself doing this especially on a summer day in Paris it’s just so hot, and they don’t believe in AC over there 🙋🏼‍♀️✨🫶🏼🤌🏻❤️🙏🏼💁🏼‍♀️🥰 definitely my soul sister now that’s high couture💅”

That took the video beyond people simply laughing at something strange on the internet.

Some viewers were actually saying: yes, I have done this too.

5. The Hygiene Concern – Almost Ignored

Out of all the reactions, one stood out precisely because this aspect of the video received surprisingly little attention:

“Not gonna comment on how silly this is, but eating with those hands is really unhygienic!!!”

And that brings me to the part I found most surprising.

After going through all these comments, what stood out to me wasn’t just the mix of reactions, but how few people focused on what happened immediately before she started eating.

Many applauded it. Many laughed. Some even said they’d done it themselves.

But very few mentioned her hands and the baguette.

And Then She Did It Again

You may think the Eiffel Tower video was a one-off.

It wasn’t.

In a later Instagram reel, the same woman uses the same solution again – this time while attending Formula 1 in Monaco.

The text accompanying the video says:

“Follow me @cocoyogi for more 😋 Forgot to bring a hair tie to Formula 1 #monaco #grandprix #formulaone #fyp”

So apparently forgetting a hair tie happened again.

And the comments?

Well… they are just as varied.

Some people couldn’t understand the idea at all:

“Why doing this? It makes no sense”

“Oh no… this is disgusting😂”

“For attention…😢”

Others immediately went for jokes:

“And all of a sudden there was a fishy smell everywhere 😭😭😭”

“No, stop it, flies will get into your dress now! 😂😂😂😂😂😂”

“Isn’t there a smell of friction?”

“I hope it’s clean! Otherwise, all the flies will attack it.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂”

Some people simply found the whole situation funny:

“Jajajajajaja😂😂😂😂😂😂”

And then there were comments from people who apparently related to it:

“Algo que haria yo 😂”

In English, roughly: “Something I would do.”

There was even someone who said:

“I was standing next to you lol”

And, at the other end of the reaction spectrum:

“My dear, you are a very beautiful, graceful, innocent, sweet woman. 😍😍😍”

So once again, the reactions range from disgust and ridicule to amusement, relatability and praise.

And that’s interesting in itself.

One person sees a disgusting stunt. Another sees a funny solution. Someone else sees content designed to get attention. And another apparently thinks: I would do that too.

The Pressure to Go Viral – And the Line That Should Not Be Crossed

With more than 21 years of experience in marketing and strategic communication, I understand very well what sits behind content like this.

Visibility today is not accidental. Every post, reel and unexpected moment can potentially capture attention, generate engagement and reach audiences far beyond the creator’s existing followers.

And this particular Paris reel certainly did that.

Again, when I checked it on August 10, 2026, it had 90.8 million views.

That is an extraordinary audience for one very simple piece of content.

The visual hook is immediate. You do not need a complicated explanation. You see someone doing something completely unexpected in front of one of the world’s best-known landmarks, and you want to understand what is happening.

People then comment because they love it, hate it, find it funny, find it disgusting, want to argue with someone else in the comments or simply cannot believe what they just watched.

From a visibility perspective, that’s a very powerful combination.

But there is still a line.

When content encourages behavior that can create hygiene concerns or that people may imitate without thinking about the practical consequences, I think creators should consider more than the number of views.

As I said when discussing that coffee machine incident, there are a few questions worth asking before posting something presented as a hack:

Could someone imitate this behavior?

Is it sensible for them to do so?

What are the real-world consequences beyond the video?

And, from a purely strategic perspective:

Does the attention strengthen your credibility – or will people remember you for the wrong reason?

Virality can bring enormous visibility, but it doesn’t make the behavior behind the viral moment a good idea.

Paris Has Produced Some Very Strange Viral “Tips”

Perhaps this story fascinates me partly because Paris itself is such a contrast to what happens in the video.

I loved the city when I visited. I used the Paris Metro and RER, visited its famous attractions and finally saw places I had wanted to see for years.

Yet Paris also seems to inspire an endless stream of unusual online “solutions.”

More recently, I came across another woman presenting what she does to protect her belongings in the French capital – including using packing tape. I looked beyond that first clip at some of her other videos too, and the resulting Paris safety video story became strange in a completely different way.

Neither video resembles anything I actually did during my own trip.

And perhaps that is part of why people watch them. There are perfectly normal ways to visit Paris, get around the city, see the Eiffel Tower, eat wonderful food and enjoy yourself.

Then there is viral-video Paris.

The Paris Hair Hack That Went Too Far

At its core, this is what many would call a “hair hack” – a quick way to tie your hair when you don’t have a scrunchie.

And yes, the basic concept predates this particular Paris video.

But the context changes everything here.

This isn’t someone pulling a clean emergency item from a bag.

In the Paris reel, she removes the underwear she is wearing, uses it to tie her hair and then picks up her food with the same hands.

Then we have the later Formula 1 video showing that the idea wasn’t limited to one viral moment in front of the Eiffel Tower.

So, yeah, while we often look for travel hacks that can make our trips easier, I think there is still room for a very basic question:

Just because you can improvise a solution, should you?

For me, this one is an easy no.

And if I forget my scrunchie during my next trip?

I think my hair will survive.

My underwear is staying exactly where it belongs.

Later edit: it appears that there is an even older video showing this solution – perhaps from a movie?

Sources:

• The original Paris reel is here – account @cocoyogi.
• The later Formula 1 video is here.
• The Pamela Anderson video is on YouTube – Vogue.
• The older possible inspiration source is here.
• Handwashing information: CDC.
• Featured photo: Pixabay.

Violeta Loredana

Violeta-Loredana Pascal is a communications expert, business mentor, and the founder of Earth’s Attractions and PRwave INTERNATIONAL. A pioneer in the Romanian digital PR landscape since 2005, she holds a degree in Communication and Social Sciences from SNSPA Bucharest. Violeta is a senior trainer at AcademiadeAfaceri.ro, where she leverages over 20 years of experience to teach professional courses in PR strategy and workplace productivity. By blending high-level business consulting with a passion for holistic travel and wellness, she empowers solopreneurs to overcome procrastination, build profitable brands, and design a life of purposeful adventure.