Hey everyone! Have you ever felt like someone’s mirroring your every move? That’s been my life with my sister-in-law, Olivia.

When I married Jack, his ex, Olivia, ended up marrying his brother. Awkward, right? But what really bugged me was that Olivia seemed determined to imitate me. From my hairstyles to my hobbies and even my cooking, she mimicked everything I did. It felt like I was setting trends while she was just a follower.

For example, when I started yoga, Olivia was at the studio the next week. I wore a red dress to a party, and there she was, sporting the exact same color. It felt like she had a secret camera on me. She even copied my new shoes!

The tipping point came when I posted a photo of my homemade Carbonara on Instagram. Hours later, Olivia’s feed featured a dish that looked suspiciously similar. At first, I tried to ignore it, but her constant copying was becoming infuriating.

Things reached a boiling point when I overheard Olivia complaining to a friend. “I’m so tired of Amy copying me. She knows Jack loved me before her, so she’s trying to be the same,” Olivia said. The audacity! Now I was the copycat?

A startled woman | Source: AmoMama

Determined to handle this with strategy rather than confrontation, I devised a plan. A friend’s wedding was coming up, and Olivia, as usual, was obsessing over my every move—what salon I was going to, what dress I’d wear, even my hairstyle.

I decided to have a little fun. The day before the wedding, I posted a photo on Instagram with dramatically different hair—short and dyed black. Little did Olivia know, it was just a wig!

When I showed up at the wedding, Olivia nearly choked on her champagne. “What did you do to your hair?” she shrieked. I pretended innocence, saying, “Oh, I just did a photo shoot to see how I’d look with short hair. But it looks like you’ve had a similar transformation!”

I pulled out my phone, showing her the wig. The shock on her face was priceless. She had clearly fallen for my trap.

But I didn’t stop there. I took it to the next level with a series of fake changes on social media. First, I posted a photo with a pixie cut—thanks to Photoshop, of course. Olivia didn’t disappoint; the next day, she posted a picture of her own disastrous attempt at a pixie cut. It looked like a toddler had taken scissors to her hair. The comment section was a mix of confusion and laughter.

Next, I posted a photo with an elaborate tattoo design photoshopped onto my back. Olivia’s attempt to replicate it was a mess of wobbly lines and blobs. The internet had a field day with her “artistic” disaster.

The family group chats were buzzing with screenshots of Olivia’s fashion and tattoo fails. That evening, I visited my in-laws with my real blonde hair, which caused Olivia’s jaw to drop.

“Hey everyone!” I greeted cheerfully. My mother-in-law welcomed me warmly, while Olivia was left fumbling for excuses about her bizarre new look. I then showed everyone my fake makeovers, explaining I had just been having some social media fun.

The family burst into laughter, and even my mother-in-law chimed in, “Olivia, you don’t need to copy Amy to be special. You have your own style.”

Olivia sat in silence, clearly realizing the absurdity of her copying spree. That night, I saw her slip out, clearly upset. I followed her and found her sitting on a bench, tearful.

“Hey,” I said softly, sitting beside her. “I understand if you felt insecure. You don’t need to copy me; just be yourself.”

She sniffled and admitted she wanted to be liked. I reassured her that being herself was more important than mimicking me.

The experience was a rollercoaster. Olivia and I never became close, but the copying stopped. Family gatherings are now livelier, with occasional jokes about my “dramatic makeovers.”

In the end, I learned that some people lose themselves trying to be someone else. The best revenge is living well and embracing your individuality. Whether it’s a little harmless fun or just being true to yourself, it’s all about expressing who you really are.

So, have any of you faced a similar situation? Share your stories in the comments! Let’s hear about your run-ins with copycats and the creative ways you’ve dealt with them.