Viral 'gothlete' Nora Hayd calls full goth look 'pretty impractical for a beach volleyball player'

Boise State sophomore Nora Hayd, 19, went viral when a headshot from her college beach volleyball team's photo shoot started making the rounds, showing her with hot pink Manic Panic-dyed bangs and a septum ring.

The college athlete was quickly labeled the 'gothlete,' or goth athlete, for her dramatic makeup, which includes elaborate winged eyeliner and a pale base.

The visual arts major was 'shocked' when she first went viral, and told DailyMail.com she felt 'exposed.'

'It made sense, because I was randomly getting followers on Instagram and I wasn't sure why,' Nora said, calling the experience a 'whirlwind.'

Now, she's telling DailyMail.com about her makeup routine and her 'fitting' collaboration with Hot Topic.

Nora grew up in Bothell, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, and was the child of artists.

Her Instagram blew up overnight after the viral picture - she started at around 600 followers on her personal account and is about to hit 9,000, while her beach volleyball account is now close to 10,000.

'You don't see many gothletes,' one fan wrote on social media at the time, as another asked, 'Do they sell jerseys? It's of paramount importance I get merch.'

Others said they were 'suddenly the biggest Boise St volleyball fans' after the picture dropped.

At the time, Nora was surprised, since it wasn't even her going all out with her makeup.

When Nora's going for her full makeup look, she tries to do something different every time, but she always starts with a 'white or pale base as an empty canvas,' and uses NYX Professional makeup.

For her hair, she opts for Manic Panic's bold colors every time, and does her hair herself.

'My hair is an extension of my style,' Nora told FEMAIL.

When she's playing volleyball, however, she sticks to sunscreen because she said 'the sweat would ruin my makeup almost immediately,' and it wouldn't be noticeable since she's wearing glasses and a visor.

Plus, on game day, she's focused, and wants to get sleep more than she wants to do a full makeup look.

Nora said it's 'funny to me that people expect me to get in my full goth look before I play - it's pretty impractical for a beach volleyball player.'

'It might be because people don't truly understand the sport of beach volleyball, but hopefully this recent exposure helps grow the game both nationally and within the Boise community.'

Now, the athlete is collaborating with Hot Topic, which she calls 'very fitting.'

The mall punk and metal brand flew her out to Las Vegas for the throwback When We Were Young festival, which she called an 'amazing opportunity.'

She even has her own highly-anticipated line of merch for her volleyball team, much to the delight of her fans.