A father in Michigan has been praised as "dad of the year" after he took his daughter's pink-themed car to the mechanic on her behalf.
Jessica Gauthier, a 21-year-old journalism senior at Michigan State University, is from Sterling Heights, a Detroit suburb. She shared a video on her TikTok account @jess_gauthierr showing her dad inside the car, which he had recorded in their driveway at home just before taking the car to a mechanic for an oil change. The clip has had four million views since it was posted on March 16.
Gauthier told Newsweek that her dad, Lorne Gauthier, took her car to the mechanic over the St. Patrick's Day holiday weekend. The video shows several pink-themed items in the car, from a mirror with a pink studded frame and a pink-colored tissue holder to a pink disco ball hanging from the car ceiling.
She said: "I am the 'girliest' girl anyone will ever meet. I am almost always wearing pink and one of my professors even calls me Barbie. My dad just likes to take care of my car stuff because that's just what dads do for their daughters and wives, not to mention I was just super busy that weekend and probably wouldn't have done it myself."
Fathers can have a significant impact on their daughters' mental health and development.
An October 2018 study in the Journal of Adolescence noted that "fathers play a salient role in the children's development, especially in daughters." The study's findings suggested that the "father-daughter relationship significantly influences mental health of adolescent girls and this effect is mediated by basic psychological need satisfaction."
'Wow, You Really Like Your Pink Accessories'
The dad says in the latest viral video: "I can't wait to see what the guy at the oil change place is gonna think of me.
"He might think I'm a princess...," the dad says, noting that upon seeing this car, the mechanic will say "Oh yeah...that guy's flaming" before the video ends.
Gauthier, an aspiring news anchor, told Newsweek that she was at home for the St. Patrick's Day weekend for a photoshoot "as I am competing in the Miss Michigan USA pageant and then was going out during that weekend with friends for the holiday."
She said the mechanic told her dad "wow, you really like your pink accessories" before her dad revealed that it was his daughter's car.
Later that day, he also brought her mom's car to the mechanic and the worker asked "What, no pink this time?"
Gauthier said that her dad, who also had the tires on her car replaced for her, "has always treated me like the princess that I am.
"He definitely sets the bar extremely high for any guy that comes into my life, which is what a dad should do," she added.
'Dad of the Year'
TikTok users adored the father in the latest viral post. Sherri Hultman said "dad of the year goes to..." while Bad Liar wrote "Dads are great aren't they."
Telli said "Awwww he seems sweet" and jeannine_vargas agreed, noting "What a sweet dad."
User jacjac419 said "just know he loves you."
Del noted: "I wish I had a dad this is so cute."
Bara N. Brokovich wrote: "omg we all need a dad in our lives, don't we?!"
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Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.
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