Kirsty Paterson was one of the Oompa Loompa’s hired for the two-day Willy Wonka event – almost two years on she “embraces” the character and gets recognised worldwide
One of the Oompa Loompa’s who went viral after her involvement in the doomed Willy Wonka Experience looks unrecognisable after a glow up.
Kirsty Paterson, 31, found accidental fame after dressing up as the Roald Dahl character in the event in February 2024. But now she “embraces” the character and gets recognised worldwide.
The Scot has now had a “glow up” after moving to Melbourne, Australia – she is now a full-time actor, part-time yoga teacher and a fire breathing extraordinaire.
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She uses the “sad Oompa Loompa” character to her advantage but has glammed it up – donning a shiny green wig in her socials.
Kirsty, originally from Glasgow, Scotland, said: “It is really funny actually that all of this had come from a really bad situation. I had just gone through a break-up, was living back with my parents, and then I went viral.
“I was so embarrassed at first, as I was named and everything, it was a big low for me. But then I thought, I don’t want to be moping around about this, and I used it for the better. Now I embrace it and use it as a character.”
Kirsty was part of the Willy Wonka Experience in February 2024 – which left parents fuming by the shambolic event. But since moving to Australia in September 2025 she has a new found confidence – wanting a fresh start and to find better opportunities in her career.
Kirsty said: “I just used it as a character, that is not me but it is my branding. That made me feel better. It is funny because I am recognised worldwide. I moved to the other side of the world and I still get recognised for being the Oompa Loompa Lass.
“People tend to say ‘I know you but I don’t know where from’ and the room goes crazy when I tell them. I was helping out in a bar once and a customer said ‘you’re that lady!’, she went mad.”
Since, Kirsty has found more opportunities – and has appeared on The Last Leg, 60 Minutes Australia and Good Morning Britain and is working with a Emmy winner documentarian.
She said: “I went viral for doing a very bad job, but it was very last minute and not my fault, a really bad photo was taken and when viral. I thought it was the worst in the world people were slagging me off and then Good Morning Britain invited me on and I felt I could rectify myself even though I did nothing wrong.
“People saw I was actually good to the kids and started realising it wasn’t my fault, I just picked up that job. Then people were making dolls of me and Lego on a world wide level! Chrissy Teigen even reached out to me – a lot of celebs, it was incredibly overwhelming – over time people started seeing my potential.
“I got to perform at Edinburgh fringe and even had opportunities within Disney, and show casing my real potential.”
Kirsty has even had a painting of her Oompa Loompa self commissioned by famous Glasgow artist, Ashley Rawson, which is being auctioned by BBC bargain hunts Natasha Raskin Sharp on December 3.
Bids for the painting even stay open online until Boxing Day to make sure folks in the UK, Australia and America get their chance to own “this wee piece of Wonka history.”
Kirsty says her move and transformation has left her feeling “so much younger” with her new found confidence and positivity giving her heaps of energy. She said: “All I would say is there is super interesting things to come – watch out for them!”
