diff --git a/src/app/shell/BestieNavigation.test.tsx b/src/app/shell/BestieNavigation.test.tsx
index f7afd25a6e..bd9a02d1c6 100644
--- a/src/app/shell/BestieNavigation.test.tsx
+++ b/src/app/shell/BestieNavigation.test.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ import { createAgentLibrary } from "../../features/agents/library";
 import { localAgentsFixture } from "../../features/agents/local-testing";
 import type { RegisteredPage } from "../../features/pages/service";
 import type { RelayData, RelaySnapshot } from "../../features/relay/service";
+import type { ProfileQueries } from "../../features/relay/profile-directory";
+import type { Profile } from "../../features/relay/contracts";
 import { createRelaySession } from "../../features/relay/session";
 import { createSidebarPreferencesStore } from "../../features/relay/sidebar-preferences-store";
 import {
@@ -112,7 +114,20 @@ async function fixture(firstAgent = false) {
     signal: lifetime.signal,
   });
   await choices.refresh(false);
-  const session = { ...owner.session, viewer, agentChoices: choices };
+  let profileMap: ReadonlyMap<string, Profile> = new Map();
+  const profileListeners = new Set<() => void>();
+  const ensured = vi.fn<ProfileQueries["ensure"]>(async () => {});
+  const profiles: ProfileQueries = {
+    snapshot: () => profileMap,
+    subscribe(listener) {
+      profileListeners.add(listener);
+      return () => {
+        profileListeners.delete(listener);
+      };
+    },
+    ensure: ensured,
+  };
+  const session = { ...owner.session, viewer, agentChoices: choices, profiles };
   let snapshot: RelaySnapshot = {
     status: "ready",
     generation: 1,
@@ -143,6 +158,11 @@ async function fixture(firstAgent = false) {
     relay,
     native,
     libraryRead,
+    ensured,
+    publishProfile(pubkey: string, profile: Profile) {
+      profileMap = new Map([...profileMap, [pubkey, profile]]);
+      for (const listener of profileListeners) listener();
+    },
     update(patch: Partial<RelaySnapshot>) {
       snapshot = { ...snapshot, ...patch };
       for (const listener of listeners) listener();
@@ -179,6 +199,35 @@ it("shows the creation invitation in the dock, then follows the configured Besti
   expect(fizzTab).toHaveTextContent("F");
 });
 
+it("shows the Bestie's published profile picture over its agent definition art", async () => {
+  const f = await fixture();
+  const published = agentAvatars[1];
+  if (!published) throw new Error("Expected a second bundled avatar");
+  setDefaultAgent(scope, pollen);
+  render(
+    <BestieNavigationProvider pages={[page]} relay={f.relay}>
+      <PageNavigation
+        pages={[page]}
+        selected={page.key}
+        onSelect={() => {}}
+        placement="dock"
+      />
+    </BestieNavigationProvider>,
+  );
+  const tab = await screen.findByRole("tab", { name: "Pollen" });
+  // The definition's art covers the wait for the profile it asked for.
+  expect(tab.querySelector("img")).toHaveAttribute("src", portrait.preview);
+  await waitFor(() =>
+    expect(f.ensured).toHaveBeenCalledWith([pollen], "background"),
+  );
+  act(() =>
+    f.publishProfile(pollen, { name: "Pollen", picture: published.url }),
+  );
+  expect(
+    screen.getByRole("tab", { name: "Pollen" }).querySelector("img"),
+  ).toHaveAttribute("src", published.preview);
+});
+
 it("offers first-agent creation, then shows the exact Bestie in navigation and search", async () => {
   const f = await fixture(true);
 
diff --git a/src/app/shell/BestieNavigation.tsx b/src/app/shell/BestieNavigation.tsx
index 27293469ce..1f0bcc2d00 100644
--- a/src/app/shell/BestieNavigation.tsx
+++ b/src/app/shell/BestieNavigation.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
-import { useContext, useSyncExternalStore, type ReactNode } from "react";
+import {
+  useContext,
+  useEffect,
+  useSyncExternalStore,
+  type ReactNode,
+} from "react";
 import { agentAvatars } from "../../features/agents/avatar-packs";
 import { bestieChat } from "../../bundled/bestie/chat";
 import { UnreadBadge } from "../../bundled/channels/UnreadBadge";
 import channelStyles from "../../bundled/channels/Channels.module.css";
 import { useAgentChoices } from "../../features/agents/use-choices";
 import type { RegisteredPage } from "../../features/pages/service";
-import { useRelayConnection } from "../../features/relay/react";
+import {
+  useProfileGeneration,
+  useRelayConnection,
+} from "../../features/relay/react";
 import type { RelayData } from "../../features/relay/service";
 import { useSavedAgentState } from "../../features/solo/default-agent";
 import { pagePresentation } from "./presentation";
@@ -56,9 +64,23 @@ export function BestieNavigationProvider({
     session.channels.list,
   );
   const channel = bestieChat(channels.channels, viewer, promoted);
-  const pack = agentAvatars.find((item) => item.url === agent?.avatar);
+  // The published profile picture wins, as in DM rows and message avatars; the
+  // agent definition's art covers the wait for that profile, or a profile
+  // without a picture (as ChannelMemberAvatars does).
+  const bestie = agent?.pubkey;
+  const generation = useProfileGeneration(session.profiles);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    void generation;
+    if (bestie)
+      void session.profiles.ensure([bestie], "background").catch(() => {});
+  }, [session, bestie, generation]);
+  const profilePicture = useSyncExternalStore(session.profiles.subscribe, () =>
+    bestie ? session.profiles.snapshot().get(bestie)?.picture : undefined,
+  );
+  const picture = profilePicture ?? agent?.avatar;
+  const pack = agentAvatars.find((item) => item.url === picture);
   const preview = useAvatarPreview(
-    pack ? "" : (agent?.avatar ?? ""),
+    pack ? "" : (picture ?? ""),
     connection.origin,
     "small",
     session.media,