5 'Mini' Pigs Charm Millions with Their Costumed Adventures, Which Help Save Other Animals (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Pigtail the pug with “mini” pigs Penn, Prissy, Pop, Pink and Posey.Photo:Courtesy @PRISSY_PIG

Courtesy @PRISSY_PIG

Melissa Nicholson remembers the moment she began falling for pigs, silly as she knows that may sound.

“That started my love for pigs a really long time ago,” she tells PEOPLE.

And how. Nicholson, a 52-year-old pre-K teacher and the owner ofPrissy & Pop’s Helping Hooves animal sanctuaryin Taylor, Fla., has built a major social media following (1.2 million and counting) for her “mini” pigsPrissy, Pop, Posey, Pink and Penn.

The group has charmed so many online thanks to their costumed and themed adventures, including on the road. See Posey and Pinkdolled up as Barbie and Ken— with coordinating wigs, of course; or the fivesomecatching up over coffeethe friends ofFriends.

The pigs have beensea creaturesandice cream,bumblebeesandpop stars.

Posey the pig.Courtesy @PRISSY_PIG

“We travel all over the place,” Nicholson says: as far south as the Keys; as far north as Washington, D.C.; as far was as New Orleans.

Even stars have taken notice: Nicholson says she and her pets have hung out backstage withMiranda Lambert.

What started with one pet pig, Prissy, 11 years ago, has since grown into something of a multi-media franchise, including a book and toys. A year after Prissy, Nicholson adopted Pop. The others followed.

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Initially, it was just Nicholson’s students who enjoyed the pigs when they would come to her classroom. But Nicholson noticed that people were responding to photos of them online, too.

“I was like, you know what, if 500 people seem interested in it, I’ll keep doing it … I was not thinking of social media stardom back then,” Nicholson says.

Pop the pig.Courtesy @PRISSY_PIG

Over the years, the pigs’ following has grown.

Nicholson says they “don’t mind” all the fuss for photos, since “they’re always getting snacks.” She takes heart in how much the fandom enjoys the burst of positivity the photos and videos bring.

“I want to do something good with this,” she says.

source: people.com