Lifestyle

I ditched my ‘Karen cut’ and got 11 tattoos and 7 piercings — I’m unrecognizable post-divorce

By
Social Links for Emily Lefroy
Published Nov. 25, 2022
Updated Nov. 25, 2022, 3:35 p.m. ET

A reinvented “Karen” is unrecognizable after her transformation from a frumpy mom to a Megan Fox lookalike.

Marissa Pool, 29, admits to previously morphing her appearance into how she thought a good wife and mom should look — leaving her deeply unhappy and lost.

“I met my ex when I was just 17,” the patient care technician from Pennsylvania explained to South West News Service. “I got wrapped up playing a role of what was expected of me as a wife and mother and wasn’t prioritizing how I looked or any aspect of my life.”

After Pool and her husband divorced in January 2022, she reassessed what exactly she wanted, embracing her love of alternative music and starting to dress in a style of clothing, hair and makeup she’d admired but never tried.

"I got wrapped up playing a role of what was expected of me as a wife and mother and wasn't prioritizing how I looked or any aspect of my life," said the mom.
“I got wrapped up playing a role of what was expected of me as a wife and mother and wasn’t prioritizing how I looked or any aspect of my life,” said the mom. Marissa Pool/ SWNS
She now dresses how she always wanted to dress, but was too afraid to.
She now dresses how she had always wanted to, having been too afraid before. Marissa Pool/ SWNS

“When you get older, you change into a different person and your values and beliefs change,” she mused. “I got wrapped up playing a role of what was expected of me as a wife and mother and wasn’t prioritizing how I looked or any aspect of my life.”

Pool — who shares two children, ages 2 and 6, with her ex-husband — says she grew out her Karen bob, ditched frumpy style for grungy and figure-hugging and dabbled in piercings — and is now reportedly told she looks like Megan Fox.

“I’m not sure I see it myself, but I’ve always admired her and it’s very humbling!” she quipped to SWNS.

She ditched the 'Karen cut' for long, dark locks.
She has ditched this “Karen cut” for long, dark locks. Marissa Pool/ SWNS
The mom-of-two is often told she looks like Megan Fox.
The mom of two is often told she looks like Megan Fox. Marissa Pool/ SWNS
Pool, however, isn't convinced she looks like Fox. "I’m not sure I see it myself, but I’ve always admired her and it’s very humbling!" she said.
Pool, however, isn’t convinced she looks like Fox. “I’m not sure I see it myself, but I’ve always admired her and it’s very humbling!” she said. Marissa Pool/ SWNS

Although she’s thrilled with her new look, Pool said it wasn’t an overnight transformation, admitting she had to adjust to the idea of changing her style after years of dressing a certain way — but she eventually embraced it.

“I decided if I can feel good about the outside, I can feel good on the inside, too, because I can be real and honest with people and not hide myself out of fear,” she said.

The mom — who now has nine tattoos, including the logo of her favorite band, Bring Me the Horizon, on her chest — now takes the time to do her hair and makeup every morning and encourages other moms to do the same.

“When you feel good about yourself, only then can you be the best version of yourself,” she said. “I feel like a completely different person. I’m confident, I feel good and I feel like me.”