This $1,150 tiny purse is perfect for rich Bengals fans 🐯

Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer
·3 min read

Is $1,150 too much to spend on a tiger-themed mini-bag? Perhaps, but not when you can wear it to Cincinnati Bengals games for the rest of your life.

University of Cincinnati law student and micro-influencer Ashley Nkadi recently saw her orange and black tiger-striped Balenciaga mini-bag gain the attention of over 185,000 viewers on TikTok. And not just for its design – which resembles the Bengals' signature stripes – but also for how much she could fit into it, considering the NFL's strict bag policy.

In the video, Nkadi squeezed the following items into her 3x4.5-inch bag while preparing for the Bengals' preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams:

  • Chewing gum.

  • Toilet seat covers.

  • Hand sanitizer.

  • Listerine strips.

  • Eyelash glue.

  • Hand lotion.

  • Lip gloss.

  • Advil.

  • Mints.

  • Cash.

  • Honey Pot wipes.

  • Disinfectant wipes.

  • Eye drops.

Most bags are prohibited in NFL stadiums, and the Bengals' Paycor Stadium has a clear bag policy. The only bags permitted inside are one-gallon plastic freezer bags, clear plastic bags smaller than 12x6x12-inches and clutch purses smaller than 6.5x4.5-inches. Medical bags for the accompanying person are also permitted.

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Nkadi bought the bag in February ahead of Super Bowl 56. Despite the $1,150 price tag, she had reasonable justification for her purchase.

"My justification to myself in my head was that you can wear it to Bengals games for the rest of your life. It just felt like fate," she said.

A year for Bengals gear

According to Smithsonian, 2022 marks the "year of the water tiger" in the Chinese Zodiac. In turn, many well-known fashion brands have released tiger-themed items in celebration, including Balenciaga, which has 57 garments and accessories in its tiger-themed capsule collection.

The timing of the Chinese Zodiac and the Bengals' first Super Bowl appearance since the 1988 season ultimately swayed Nkadi's decision to purchase the bag, which features the brand's signature "B" logo. She said the emblem could also stand for "Bengals" if you want it to.

The local law student is known for her fashion and lifestyle content, including her "pack my bag" videos. She has also posted other game day outfits and accessories in addition to the viral mini-bag, like her black and orange Bengals-themed nails and other tiger-striped items and accessories.

Nkadi graduated with a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati in 2016 and is a fellow of the Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender and Social Justice at UC. She calls herself a double-Bearcat and has followed that team since her freshman year, while also becoming a Bengals fan in recent seasons.

"We can bring that same spirit as last year ... not let people shake us up and just follow through," she said. "We've got it in us ... I just think if we remember that, then we're going to have two successful seasons for both of the teams."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC student goes viral on TikTok for Bengals-inspired Balenciaga bag