By Melissa Fleur AfsharShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA miniature pig has captivated millions of viewers on TikTok after a video showing her methodical mealtime routine went viral on the platform—drawing laughter and fascination as viewers watched the pet piglet calmly alternate bites of salad with sips of milk in a moment dubbed her "flow state."
The clip, posted November 19 by the pig's owner under @merki_the_pig, has been viewed more than 10 million times and liked by over 2.2 million TikTok users to date. It shows the much-loved pig, Princess Merkimer, eating from two plates on the floor—one with leafy greens and carrots, the other a bowl of milk—moving between them with rhythmic precision. "When my pig gets a drink between every bite and genuinely reaches a flow state," an overlaid text explained.
Princess Merkimer, affectionately known as Merki, was just a few weeks old when the video was filmed, her owner Rain told Newsweek.
"Tiny pig, huge personality, full-time drama queen: meet Princess Merkimer," Rain, 24, who lives with her husband and four pets, including Merki, said. "She’s sassy, opinionated, and always sporting her signature side-eye."
The notion of a "flow state"—a term typically reserved for peak mental engagement in athletes or artists—took on comic new meaning in the context of a piglet's dinner routine, leaving viewers on the platform in hysterics. Rain confirmed the video is a lighthearted take on the popular TikTok trend celebrating moments of deep focus.
..."At just 6 weeks old, she kept moving between her food and water with total focus, tiny but intense, which viewers found hilarious," Rain said. "The video is a playful spin on TikTok’s ‘flow state’ trend."
In the post's caption, Rain added important context about Merki's breed and diet, addressing common misconceptions about "mini pigs."
She wrote: "NOTE: this was when Princess Merki was 6-weeks-old! [Please] remember that mini pigs are any pigs under 300lbs & her breed (Julianna x American mini) will most likely reach 115lbs max, but she is also a runt so she might stay on the smaller side."
Rain also explained why milk was included in the piglet’s viral meal.
"Milk was not a big part of her diet, but she was a runt [and] had to be brought home earlier than the desired age of 8-weeks [because] of her breeder’s housing situation, so we wanted to be sure she had a little bit," she added.
"Pigs are in the top 10 most-intelligent animals in the world, capable of problem-solving, strong memory, and even a sense of humor, all of which Merki uses to her advantage," Rain said. "Mini pigs are any pigs under 300 pounds, and they’re often sold with the misconception that they’ll stay ‘teacup’ size.
"Living with one means clever antics, strong opinions, and more drama than you could imagine, but that’s what makes them so special."
The adorable pig now has more than 19,000 followers on Instagram, with her popularity continuing to rise on TikTok. Her signature side-eye and "drama queen" persona have made her an internet favorite.
"I’m so grateful to share her life with an audience that loves her (almost) as much as I do," her owner added.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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