Nevada-tan refers to a Japanese schoolgirl who became an internet sensation following a tragic incident in 2004. The nickname comes from the 'NEVADA' university sweatshirt she was wearing in a school photograph that circulated online shortly after the event. In internet subcultures, particularly on 4chan and 2chan, she became an object of fascination, often depicted in fan art and moe-style illustrations that contrast her innocent appearance with the dark reality of her history. While the meme is rooted in real-world tragedy, it has evolved into a symbol of the 'creepy-cute' aesthetic and remains one of the most well-known examples of how the internet processes and archives sensational news through digital art, image macros, and viral lore.