147,000 followers. That was the “reward” Michelle Peters received simply for being the girlfriend of the most viral footballer of the 2026 World Cup. 🤯
Tim Payne, a forward for the New Zealand national team, exploded in popularity thanks to a campaign by Argentine influencer Scarso, and the wave swept along everyone around him. Peters, a professional photographer who quietly worked for an agency in New Zealand, saw her TikTok profile go from a few followers to becoming an account with more than 147 thousand fans in a matter of days. Without having posted anything extraordinary. Without seeking fame. Just for sharing her life with the man of the moment. 📸
Now Michelle Peters is not only the partner of the tournament’s “most viral player” — she is also, officially, an influencer. And all thanks to a New Zealander few people knew before football and social media decided to make history together. 🇳🇿🔥
