The photo that became the basis for the "Success Kid" meme was taken in 2007 by Laney Griner. It shows her son Sam trying to eat a handful of sand. She uploaded it to Flickr, and the image quickly gained attention due to the boy’s expressive face and clenched fist.

At first, the meme circulated with the caption “I Hate Sandcastles,” suggesting that the boy had destroyed someone’s sandcastle. Laney didn’t like this version, as Sam actually loved building sandcastles and she felt it made him look like a bully.

Over time, the meaning shifted to something more positive. The image began to represent small personal victories and everyday success. Laney embraced this new interpretation, and “Success Kid” went on to become one of the most iconic internet memes.