There are some events in my Poonique story that didn’t make it into the blog,  but have tickled me enough to want to give them their own mini-post.

The tale of how my favourite hashtag was born is one of them.  Yes, I’m referring to the the famous #Poonique video by Gracie Dudley.

This is one of many reasons why I wish to adapt my Poonique story into a novella/ebook. There were smaller details and events that I omitted in the chapters, mainly to drive the story forward and to ensure that the most significant events were revealed (the lies, emotional effects, financial impact etc).

In hindsight, I would have liked to have written my tale using my spreadsheet as a focal reference point (in respect of timelines, remembering what the Younique customer kudos was for that month etc).

That is my next goal – to continue writing anti-MLM articles and provide support to former huns…but also work on a full version of my story for publishing.  I would like to find myself a decent editor who will help me on my way.  If you enjoy my writing and wish to show your support, consider becoming my Patreon.

Anyway, I would like to recollect on a time back in December 2015 (originally touched upon in Chapter 5), when my favourite hashtag was born.

Behold, the famous #Poonique video by Gracie Dudley.

Armed with the Younique Touch Mineral Liquid Foundation, the Powder Puff Brush and a black Sharpie pen, Gracie was on a mission.

“…I’ve been tagged in a video by a presenter trying to prove how it works and calling me a liar.
So I’ve gone one better.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHARPIE YOUR FACE AND USE YOUNIQUE TO COVER IT.
You look a massive tool by the end of it!!!!!
Twitter @gracieduds
#Poonique…”

No doubt, it all began because Gracie was tired of seeing the fucktonne of Younique vs. Sharpie videos on YouTube and Facebook, and decided enough was enough…

I also found some delightful stills from other Younique vs. Sharpie videos, which are readily found in the public domain (all you have to do is Google!).  Here are some of my favourites below.  I’ve tried to hide their identifying features as much as possible; my focus is not on these individuals, it is on the fact this foundation is not all its hyped up to be.

As you can see from her video caption, Gracie was tagged in a foundation demonstration video by a Younique hun, attempting to “show her how it works“.  Gracie clearly went one better, and shared her fantastic video with the world – watch it here.

Gracie drove her point home by satirising the hun-craze of drawing all over their face with Sharpies, and then plastering Younique foundation on top of it.  She adorned her face with a “bellend” and a “minky” as you will see from this still.

However, my favourite part of the video is when Gracie draws “Poonique” across her forehead, and then adds the hashtag!

Naturally, people (aka potential customers) on Facebook were seeing this video, and boy were they were laughing. I watch this video now, and I find myself giggling away – back when I was a Butterfly, my first thought was “shiiiiiiiiiit, this is bad publicity, what are we going to do??“

When the video started going viral, it sent the uplines into panic-mode – Green Elite Overlord Tania was straight on the case.

“Now, girls – we need to counteract this #Poonique video.  Its complete and utter lies, and we have to show people that we will not let it affect our businesses!”

What was Tania’s (and every other bloody upline’s) plan, to combat the scourge of the #Poonique hashtag?

I’ll let these screenshots do the talking, as they really do say it all.

Firstly, we had to do our utmost to defend the products!  It was imperative that we wrote a statement about the shameful, unfair #Poonique video all over our social media accounts!

Like what this Dedicated Hun did, for example. 😉

Secondly, Tania also insisted we did our own counter-videos to show how amaaaaazing the foundation was.  My upline Scarlett and fellow “teamie” Kerri did one, but there was no way in hell I wanted to do that shizz.

When the above efforts didn’t seem to be working, the uplines started panicking even more.  Tania called an emergency meeting via her Facebook training group.

“Girls, I’ve just had a Zoom call with my own upline and her team.  This #Poonique video is making Younique look like a joke.  I’m not worried, as the products speak for themselves, but we still have to make an effort to show customers that we will not allow our products to be mocked!  I need you all to use the ‘fake it til you make it‘ tactics now…”

By that, Tania wanted us all to post statuses pretending that the #Poonique video had had the opposite effect – instead of denting our sales, it had sent them through the roof!  Of course, this was all imaginary and the biggest pile of bullshit to boot, but Tania wanted us to remember:

“There is no such thing as bad publicity.  Use the Law of Attraction mindset, girls!  If we tell ourselves that this publicity has sent Younique skyrocketing, then it will happen!”

So, with reps across the globe feeding this advice to their downlines, it would explain the abundance of such deluded statuses.  We had to emphasise on how Gracie had “done us a favour” and generated a shedload of interest.  It was complete bull, but the way these statuses were appearing, you’d think customers were scrambling all over themselves to get hold of this bloody foundation.

I am very interested to find out whether ‘Silly Hun’ got a million sales and joined the #mascaramillionaireclub!  After all, I was under the impression that #Poonique was going to launch you “rocketing into cyber space soooo deep“??

Well, the panic about #Poonique spread like wildfire across the hun-lands – so much so, that they lost their originality in the maelstrom.  As you can see below, the good ol’ copy/paste jobbies emerged.

I mean, looking back on all this now, have you ever seen such pompous hot air in all your life?

I know that being in MLM turns you into trained robots, where you obediently follow your upline’s orders in desperation for sales, but come on now.

I look at these screenshots, and I see nonsense such as:

“…Its been one busy, busy, busy night!!!  Silly girl, #Poonique got Younique going viral…!”
“…tons of friend requests, likes, sales and shares…”
“…thanks for the free advertising..!”
“…people are going crazy to find out whether our foundation can really cover up a cock on your face…” 

It makes me bloody angry to read this shit.  When these women were typing up or copy/pasting these statuses, did they ever stop to question how ridiculous it all was?  Were they so scared that Gracie’s video would stop them making sales, that they were prepared to lie?  Or, ‘fake it til you make it’, as Tania insisted.

#Poonique didn’t send Younique ‘viral’.  Nobody got “tons of friend requests” and I am highly doubtful of the fact that ‘Silly Hun’ got to join the so-called ‘Mascara Millionaires’.

The brainwashed huns will call me a #negferret, #moodhoover and blame my ‘negative mindset’, but I stand by what I say.  This company is a load of crap, it brings out the worst in people and encourages them to spout bullshit.  

Even though I was a Younique rep at the time, I am glad Gracie’s video went viral – it put an end to the ridiculous plague of Sharpie videos!  I feel that #Poonique deserves to be resurrected again, so whenever you mention them on social media, don’t forget this all-important hashtag!  Oh, and Gracie – I think you are brilliant!

I hope you have all enjoyed this mini-reflection.  Keep posted for more anti-MLM articles, tales from former huns, oh, and James will also be providing his own version of events from my #Poonique days!

If you like what I do and wish to support my anti-MLM mission (and turn my #Poonique story into a detailed novella), please consider becoming my Patreon.

If you have a MLM experience you would like to share, feel free to get in touch.  Your anonymity is always guaranteed.

Don’t forget to join the MLM fight on social media – if you’re on Twitter, please give @ElleBeauBlog a follow (and help me get the #Poonique hashtag trending again!).  Alternatively, join in the discussion with Elle Beau, the Anti-Blogger on Facebook.  I am also on Instagram now – look for @ellebeaublog!

Are you stuck in a MLM and are looking for a way to leave?  My friends at Bot Watchhave produced a fantastic guide on how to get out – read it here.

Or, are any of you concerned for a loved one who is totally and utterly wrapped up in MLM?  Bot Watch have advice for you on what to do and how to remain supportive – read it here.

Please, also check out the good work of the people of Bot Watch, Juice Plus/MLM Lies Exposed and Timeless Vie.  They work tirelessly to expose the truth and lies of the MLM industry, so anyone considering this line of work can make a fair, informed decision .  In fact, I now have a Recommended Reading page for Anti-MLM writers and interesting lifestyle bloggers I think you will enjoy, such as Chammy in Real Life and my Patreons, @YourOlly and Jon Walsh.

For something a little different to pyramid schemes, I would also recommend a look at what Bad Psychics are up to.  Award-winning and seen-on-TV, they have worked to expose false claims made by psychics, mediums and the paranormal since 2003.