5 Shocking Facts About Cierra Mistt: The Influencer Behind The Sierra Mist Lawsuit Myth

The story of the "Sierra Mist lawsuit girl" became a viral internet sensation in mid-2023, suggesting a major corporation was forced to retire its iconic soda brand due to a legal battle with a social media influencer. As of December 17, 2025, the narrative has evolved from a sensational claim to a complex case study in online misinformation and trademark law, centering on the popular TikTok personality known as Cierra Mistt. The truth, as often happens with viral stories, is far more nuanced than the headlines suggest, involving a cease-and-desist letter, a massive brand rehaul, and an influencer's savvy response to a corporate challenge. The individual at the heart of this controversy is Cierra Mistt, a content creator who built a massive following by sharing uncensored and frequently sensational stories from her life as a flight attendant. Her online name, which is phonetically identical to the soft drink, inadvertently placed her in the crosshairs of a major brand's legal team, sparking a public relations firestorm that she used to her advantage. This article dives into her profile, the actual legal details, and the current status of the Sierra Mist brand.

Cierra Mistt: Biography and Profile Details

Cierra Mistt, known professionally by her online alias, is a highly successful American social media influencer, best recognized for her candid and often controversial content about the airline industry. She has garnered millions of followers across platforms like TikTok and YouTube, establishing a niche that blends lifestyle, travel, and personal anecdotes.

• Full Name: Cierra Huffman
• Profile Name: Cierra Mistt (cierra_mistt)
• Date of Birth: February 24, 1994
• Age (as of 2025): 31
• Place of Birth: New York, United States
• Zodiac Sign: Pisces
• Profession/Niche: Social Media Influencer, TikTok Star, Flight Attendant
• Marital Status: Married to James
• Children: One child, currently expecting their second child
• Estimated Net Worth: Between $1 million and $5 million (as of 2024)

Cierra Mistt's content is characterized by her willingness to share "secrets" and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life as a flight attendant, which often includes provocative or clickbait-style titles, helping her videos achieve significant viral reach. This content strategy is key to understanding her reaction and public statements regarding the PepsiCo trademark issue.

The Viral Claim vs. The Legal Reality of the Trademark Dispute

The core of the "Sierra Mist lawsuit girl" narrative is a highly publicized trademark dispute that Cierra Mistt claims she was involved in with PepsiCo. The story went viral after she posted a video explaining the situation, which led many to believe she was the reason the soda brand was discontinued and replaced with Starry.

The Cease-and-Desist Letter Controversy

The conflict began when PepsiCo, the parent company of Sierra Mist, took issue with the phonetic similarity between the brand name and Cierra Mistt's online persona. The company issued a cease-and-desist letter, demanding she stop using her name in a way that could cause brand confusion. Cierra Mistt responded to this corporate action by doing her own research into the Sierra Mist trademark. She then publicly claimed that PepsiCo had allegedly let the trademark expire, allowing her to "swoop in" and potentially claim it herself. This claim, however, quickly became the subject of intense scrutiny and fact-checking.

Debunking the Viral Misinformation

Despite the sensational nature of Cierra Mistt's claim, multiple legal and media sources have since confirmed that the viral narrative of a lawsuit forcing the brand change is false. * No Lawsuit Filed or Won: There is no public record or evidence that Cierra Mistt ever filed or won a formal trademark lawsuit against PepsiCo that resulted in the brand's retirement. * Trademark Still Owned by PepsiCo: Searches of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database confirm that PepsiCo still owns the Sierra Mist trademark. The claim that the trademark had lapsed was misinformation that spread widely online. * Rebrand Was a Business Decision: PepsiCo's decision to discontinue Sierra Mist and launch Starry was a strategic business move aimed at better competing with Coca-Cola's lemon-lime competitor, Sprite. The rebrand was in the works long before the public dispute with Cierra Mistt.

The Broader Context: Sierra Mist's Other Legal Issues

While the Cierra Mistt controversy was a high-profile trademark dispute, it was not the only legal challenge faced by the Sierra Mist brand during its history. The brand had previously encountered a separate legal issue related to its marketing claims, which provides a broader context for the brand’s history of legal entanglements.

The "All-Natural" Ingredient Lawsuit

Prior to the Starry rebrand and the Cierra Mistt trademark issue, Sierra Mist faced a class-action lawsuit concerning its "Sierra Mist Natural" product line. * The Claim: This lawsuit alleged that the use of the term "all-natural" on the product's labeling was misleading, as some ingredients were argued to be synthetic or not truly "all-natural." * The Outcome: PepsiCo settled this lawsuit, which resulted in the company changing the labeling of the product to avoid further legal claims regarding the ingredients. This older lawsuit, while completely separate from the Cierra Mistt trademark issue, highlights the legal scrutiny that major food and beverage brands frequently face, particularly concerning ingredient transparency and marketing language.

The Aftermath: Cierra Mistt and the Legacy of Starry

The trademark clash with Cierra Mistt ultimately served as a massive publicity boost for the influencer, solidifying her reputation as a content creator who can generate viral buzz from her personal life. She effectively leveraged the situation, turning a corporate threat (the cease-and-desist) into a public relations victory.

The Starry Brand Takes Over

PepsiCo officially launched Starry in January 2023, replacing Sierra Mist on shelves across the United States. The company positioned Starry as a crisp, citrus-forward lemon-lime soda designed to appeal to a younger demographic. The brand's success or failure is now entirely separate from the legacy of Sierra Mist.

Cierra Mistt’s Continued Influence

As of late 2024 and into 2025, Cierra Mistt continues to be a dominant force on social media. Her ability to create engaging, high-traffic content, even when it touches on sensitive or legally contested topics, remains a key driver of her success and net worth. The "Sierra Mist lawsuit girl" narrative has become a permanent, if factually incorrect, part of her online biography, demonstrating the power of a compelling story in the age of viral content. The dispute, while not a formal lawsuit that forced a brand change, remains a significant example of how corporate intellectual property (IP) disputes can quickly become public spectacles when a social media influencer is involved. The key takeaway for many is that while Cierra Mistt did not win a lawsuit to kill the brand, she successfully won the public attention battle against a major corporation.