Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Patterson.
Hi Courtney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I joined Instagram in 2011, a year after I adopted my Chiweenie, Tuna, which has since become my business from 2014 until now. Tuna was a four-month-old rescue pup when I adopted him, and his unconventional features (he’s known for having an aggressive overbite and human-like teeth, think Montgomery Burns from the Simpsons) are what inspired me to post about him once I reluctantly joined IG. Reluctantly because I didn’t want a social media account and had no intentions of garnering a following (EVER), but his cute face was/is too special, as was/is his sweet soul, so I began posting about him, just for fun to bring people joy and laughter, as the main subject for my content.
I remained an enigma and didn’t show my face on IG for years (think Wilson from Home Improvement) because this was about Tuna. However, when he went viral in 2012 after Instagram featured 3-1 photos of him on their account (side note: I didn’t even know that Instagram had an Instagram back then) everything changed for me and by default, I also became the face of Tuna Melts my Heart but I preferred to remain in the shades of my 12lbs dog, haha. Tuna went from 8,500 followers to 32,000 overnight and soon became the most followed dog on Instagram at the time. He went viral in the world media, we made appearances on national and international talk and news shows, I was offered a book deal with a division of Penguin Random House which led me to meet my husband (story for another time), and traveled around the US and the UK meeting followers and raising financial support for rescue groups.
When I decided to make this my business, it was a total step of faith. I had no idea how to make money off of this. Instagram was the Wild West back then. There was no such thing as influencers or content creators and brands were also trying to figure out what this all was. I for one was just a girl with a funny-looking dog, throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what would stick. And it stuck! Since then I have created content for major brands like Disney+, Paramount Pictures, Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, Swiffer, PetSmart, etc, and have continued to use the platform to support rescue groups and other animal organizations. I’ve also created a Tuna product line (calendar, plush, and formerly tee-shirts and mugs) and have been selling most of those products since 2013. So much has happened over the last almost 12 years, and I’m so grateful for every moment but the best part is that Tuna is being used as a catalyst to change people’s days all over the world and I love that he and I are able to bring people joy and laughter, which is always been my main goal.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth mostly but being an independent contractor has its challenges. For the most part though, the business side of it has been steady over the last eight years excluding this past year. Business slowed down a lot but I’m actually thankful for that and I’m happy to expand more on it during the interview. Tuna also once snapped at a well-known actress on set during a commercial shoot, which was super nerve-wracking, but she handled it perfectly and rolled it in with the scene as if it was intended.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Since 2015, I have been primarily working in advertising, marketing, content creation, and as a creative director/manager for my (dog’s) Instagram account, @tunameltsmyheart, alongside my incredible husband (he came on in 2017). I realized a couple of years ago that I’m actually using my degree (I majored in Advertising) but on another level. It was a mind-blowing kind of moment for meand I was just thankful that my university studies didn’t totally go to waste but I had never thought of it that way.- that I have been working in advertising but I totally have! And big brands trust me to ideate, produce and execute content for their products/services/entertainment, which is so wild and so fun! I’m mainly known for dressing up Tuna in ridiculous costumes, haha. More than that but those kinds of posts are definitely memorable. I’m proud of a lot of moments. Writing a book about Tuna, creating a product line, speaking at big events and on lots of television interviews throughout the years, but I’m most proud of sticking with this for as long as I have. And I’m so thankful that God has continued to open doors for me to walk through. There have been times when I think “how many more Christmas posts can I do of Tuna” but I keep doing them. That said, I’m curious about retiring this as a business now that I’m a mom of two and Tuna is nearing 13 and instead just keep posting for fun. Happy to talk about that as well during the interview. Also thankful that Tuna hasn’t bitten either of my children yet! Haha. That’s a huge win.
Lastly, I think what sets Tuna apart from others is his unconventional face and expressions. I think what sets me apart from others is that I really really love how much joy his account brings people and that why I continue to do what I do. The money and opportunities have been fabulous, but it’s not lost on me that this is more than an Instagram account for others, and I think I do my best to show up for people to let them know that I see them in their pain, sorrow, grief, etc. I’m not motivated by dollar signs. I’m motivated by love.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I like several things! I love the beauty (the lush green canopy and the skyline) and I also love the diversity and the culture. It’s a great food city too! I don’t love the traffic. It’s really a problem because I live south of the connector so it’s unavoidable.
Contact Info:
- Website: tunameltsmyheart.com
- Instagram: @tunameltsmyheart
- Facebook: Tuna melts my heart
- Other: @thetravelingtuna
Image Credits
All Images by @tunameltsmyheart
