You can purchase merchandise featuring the style or image of Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos.
Holmes fans and others who enjoy making fun of her sell mugs, t-shirts and other accessories that reference the "girlboss."
Holmes is currently being tried for fraud in connection to allegedly defrauding investors regarding her blood testing company, Theranos.
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Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, might be facing fraud charges but merchandise featuring her likeness is being sold all over the internet.
Online, you can find mugs, tshirts, and accessories featuring the image of Holmes, the former CEO of blood testing company. This is both a joke and a celebration of the "girlboss". Amazon, RedBubble and Etsy sell items featuring Holmes's face to make it easy for supporters or ironic.
One Etsy shop sells mugs with the slogan "I wish Elizabeth Holmes, disgraced founder of Theranos, had an MLM so that I could join it #girlboss," while RedBubble apparel with Holmes's face has slogans such as "fake IT 'til it makes it" or "they hate to see girlboss win."
Many listings include the phrase "gaslight. gatekeep. girlboss" which is used to mock and decribe a capitalistic form of feminism online. This idea was criticized for its lack of inclusion and emphasis on wealth online. Insider reported that "girlboss", a satirical online term, has been used by Elizabeth Holmes fans to call her "Holmies". Some observers also use the term "girlboss", which is what Insider called "Holmies".
A representative of an online shop said that while we don't condone criminal activity, she's happy that she was able get so far on a lie in an industry so heavily dominated and dominated by men. "She's full of femme fatale energy, and who doesn’t love a good villain origin story?
Holmes pleaded not guilty in the fraud case.
Stephen D. Benning is an associate professor of psychology at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He previously spoke to Insider about Holmes fans seeing their mistakes in Holmes'.
Holmes, then 19, left Stanford University to launch her blood-testing company, Theranos. Insider reported that the company was once worth $9 billion. It claimed to be capable of testing for a variety of conditions and diseases from one drop of blood. The technology didn't do what Holmes and her ex, Ramesh Balwani, the former vice-chair, COO and president of Theranos, claimed. Both are being charged with defrauding customers, doctors, investors and medical professionals. Balwani, who will be facing a separate fraud trial as well, pleaded not guilty.
After Wall Street Journal reporter John Carreyrou reported on Theranos' shortcomings, Holmes became a Silicon Valley darling and was followed by his book "Bad Blood". Many podcasts have documented Theranos' demise.
Holmes could spend up to 20 years prison for being convicted. The fourth week of the Theranos trial has just ended.
