Lily Stewart, a 20-year-old University of Georgia student who gained viral fame from her mugshot, has found herself back in police custody with a second arrest occurring just weeks after the first. Known for her smiling mugshot, which captured the attention of social media, Stewart's recent arrest on Sunday, March 23, 2025, involved charges of obstruction of a law enforcement officer and loitering/prowling.
According to police records, Stewart had been taken in under these new allegations, rushed through her bond posting and released from custody by shortly after 11 a.m. on the day of her arrest. Online, her attorney Stephen Morris, revealed that her bond was set at $4,600. No comment was provided about her latest run-in with the law, despite the growing public interest surrounding her experiences.
This arrest marks the second time she has made headlines this month. Just two weeks prior, on March 8, Stewart was arrested for speeding: she was clocked at 79 mph in a 55 mph zone and then, moments later, at 84 mph in the same limit area. Stewart described her state during that time as simply heading to a friend’s birthday party in Milledgeville, Georgia, when she got pulled over not once but twice. "I look like a basic white girl, and I am," she said in an interview with PEOPLE, showing her light-hearted take on her time in jail.
The sudden fame from her first arrest had its perks. After the viral spread of her mugshot, she reportedly gained thousands of new followers on social media. Her arrest photos spawned a myriad of comments online, ranging from humorous to supportive. One pointed out, "The only crime here is stealing my heart," while another user offered to help pay her bail. With her cheeky responses, she maintained that she found the situation amusing, stating, "I think it's hilarious. I don't know what all the hype is about. I just took a mugshot and went on with my day."
However, the attention has not been all lighthearted. Stewart's strikes with the law have raised eyebrows, and her mother has reportedly expressed concern about her daughter's sudden internet fame and its potential impact on her future. Amidst the fun comments and social media offers, the gravity of her situation remains evident. Sheriff Tyler Hooks, addressing Stewart's first arrest, noted, "She could have hurt herself or someone else," underlining the dangers of her reckless behavior.
Despite this, Stewart embraced the mixed responses to her arrest and the newfound social media fame. While on campus, she has become somewhat of a local personality, embodying the duality of a college student and reluctant internet celebrity. From humorously framing her mugshots to reposting well-meaning messages from her followers, Stewart’s public persona has undergone a transformation since her first arrest.
In a world where a mugshot can turn someone into an overnight sensation, others have raised practical concerns about the implications of her rapid rise to fame. Following her recent brush with the law, Stewart revealed plans to slow down. "I just want to move on and avoid any further trouble,” she mentioned in a recent interview, reflecting a conscious decision to step back from the chaotic spotlight.
As she faces not only legal implications—including a requirement to complete community service, an essay on the dangers of speeding, and a driving course for her earlier offenses—Stewart now contemplates her next steps while navigating the unexpected consequences of her viral fame.
While her enchanting smile may have charmed viewers across the internet, both Stewart and her followers are left asking: what happens next, as she balances the responsibilities of being a college student with the ongoing scrutiny of public opinion?
Stewart's journey reiterates the complex dance between fame, misbehavior, and identity; a mixture that has left many engaged in both sympathy and critique. As her story unfolds, it remains to see how she'll channel her experiences into personal growth and responsibility.
