Hey everyone! Welcome back to another "BeYOUtiful" Blog! I am so excited to introduce this week's blog post on Anna Mayo(America's National Miss 2019)! Anna has become such a good friend of mine and I am so happy to share her story with you all! Anna, you are absolutely so "BeYOUtiful" inside and out!
Tell us about “Beauties against Bullies”...Why you created it and what you want others to learn from it.
I originally started Beauties Against bullies when I was talking with some of the girls in my modeling group. We all shared stories of people being mean to us at school. Little did I know, my mom was having the same conversation with the moms from the group. Each mom told a different story of how we were all treated. Some girls were called hateful names and others were laughed at in class.
Later that year, I was sexually harassed by a student and later physically assaulted and sexually harassed by a teacher. After the bullying experience and this experience, I was in a very dark mental place. I struggled with anxiety and PTSD on a daily basis. I was afraid to go to school. One day, I decided that enough was enough, and Beauties Against Bullies was born. I decided that one way I could help myself would be to help others. I am now an advocate for those who cannot stand up for themselves or need a word of encouragement before standing up to their bullies.
If you are a victim of bullying or sexual assault, I am sorry. Please know that it is not your fault. You did not deserve to be treated like that. You are a SURVIVOR! You are a FIGHTER! You are LOVED!
Bullying and Mental illnesses are something so many young men and women struggle with daily. What would your advice be to someone who is currently struggling with bullying, mental illness, or both?
If you are struggling with bullying, talk to a trusted adult and explain what is happening. Also, talk with your friends and family. Your friends will have your back and be there when it is time to stand up to your bullies. Roleplay with someone you trust and practice standing up to your bully. If you aren’t quite ready to stand up to them, at least you have made someone else aware if your situation. That gives you power and strength. Bullies are mean for a number of reasons: they could be jealous of you, they could be insecure, or they might have been bullied. The important thing to remember is to be kind to them! I know it's hard, but it could make the situation much worse if you retaliate. It is also important to remember that it is not your fault.
If you are struggling with mental health, talk to a school counselor, parent, coach, a trusted teacher, etc., and explain how you are feeling. Every morning, I try to find something good in the world or something that will make my day better. It could be something as simple as eating a cookie for lunch. Each day has its own beauty. You are worthy of finding that beauty and being a part of this world.
What is something that you think makes you truly “beYOUtiful”?
People always tell my parents that I am beautiful. They always say," she is beautiful on the inside too." I think something that makes me "beYOUtiful" is my kind heart. Someone can be beautiful and have a heart full of hate. It costs nothing to be kind and the world we live in needs more people to be kind.
You can continue following Anna on Instagram @annaliese_pretty_please
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