Influencer and beauty YouTuber @MissDarcei just wants the world to know one thing: She is, in fact, not a child.
She’s a fully grown 33-year-old woman. A woman who, unfortunately, can’t seem to convince flight attendants, border agents, or even random travelers of that very basic truth.
In a viral Instagram post, Darcei hilariously recounted being mistaken for a child no fewer than ten times over the course of just three days while traveling through Europe with her family. And honestly? She’s taking it all in stride — and in braids.
“Do I look like a child?” she asks her followers in the now-trending clip. “Because I’ve been mistaken for a child at least 10 times in the last three days.”
It all started in the airport lounge in London, when a fellow traveler asked her if she was “done school already.” (Spoiler: Yes. Quite a while ago.) Darcei responded with a straight-faced “Girl, I’m 33.”
But things only escalated from there.
No, She Doesn’t Want the Cartoon Airplane Bag
On the flight, a well-meaning but misinformed flight attendant offered her one of those complimentary kiddie bags usually reserved for actual 8-year-olds — you know, the ones with cartoon planes and coloring books inside.
“I say no, thank you… because I’m not eight years old,” she quipped.
And just when she thought things couldn’t get worse? Enter Flight Attendant #2, who was handing out drinks. Everyone else got a choice of water or champagne. Darcei? Just water. Because obviously, little kids can’t be poppin’ bubbly on the flight to Paris.
International Confusion: “How Old Are You, Really?”
Once she landed in Paris, she encountered another challenge: getting through border control as someone who looks like they might’ve just wrapped up elementary school. While waiting in the 18+ passport scanning line, one agent questioned her age twice, before another came up and asked again even after her passport was already in the machine.
“My passport is already in the machine, sir. It’s too late,” she deadpanned.
The pièce de résistance? She was traveling with older cousins and found herself repeatedly assumed to be their child. Not their sister. Not their friend. Their actual child.
“Where’s your mommy?” she joked. “Are you old enough to be here?”
Magic Mike Mayhem Incoming?
Darcei’s final (and most relatable) concern: getting carded at the door for the Magic Mike show.
“I’m scared because tomorrow we’re going to Magic Mike,” she said. “They’re not gonna let me in. I’m 33!”
The Braids Theory: Explained
So, what’s the culprit behind this whirlwind of misidentification? Darcei suspects it’s the hairstyle, specifically the youthful-looking braids, and honestly, she might have a point. A neat set of braids and a baby face? That’s a combo that’ll have grown women being offered apple juice on flights for the rest of their lives.
Personal observation? Yes, she does look like a child, especially with those braids. It’s giving “field trip chaperone accidentally placed in the 4th grade group.”
The internet is loving it, of course, with fans flooding her comments and many teasing her jokingly.
- “I’m sorry you do and you’re so cute! 🤗😂”
- “Your reverse psychology is not gonna work on us little girl🤣🤣”
- “Loool relatable. I was carded getting vodka sodas at the store. I’m 36 y’all. Showed cashier my ID and she still thought I was lying…or the other time I was offered the kids menu at cheesecake factory. I take it as a compliment though”
If there’s one thing to take from Darcei’s misadventures, it’s this: aging gracefully is a blessing, even if it means getting carded for eternity — and almost denied entry to Magic Mike.
Stay young, stay hydrated, and keep the braids. Just maybe carry ID. Always.
