Girl Voted ‘Ugliest’ at School Strikes Back at Bullies
A teenager who was voted one of the “ugliest girls” at her high school has responded online with a powerful message that is going viral.
Lynelle Cantwell is in 12th grade at Holy Trinity High School in Newfoundland, Canada. Last week she learned of an online poll that was encouraging her fellow students to vote for the “ugliest girls” in the grade. The poll included a list of female students, including Lynelle. After more than 100 anonymous votes, Lynelle landed fourth on the list.
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But while plenty of victims of this kind of cyberbullying would be understandably devastated, perhaps trying to keep a low profile in the wake of such cruelty, Lynelle decided to take a stand. In a Facebook post that has gotten more than 6,200 shares since it was posted on Dec. 1, the 17-year-old wrote, “To the person that made the ‘ugliest girls in grade 12 at HTH’ ask.FM straw poll, I’m sorry that your life is so miserable that you have to try to bring others down. To the 12 people that voted for me to bring me to 4th place, I’m sorry for you too. I’m sorry that you don’t get to know me as a person. I know that I’m not the prettiest thing to look at. I know I have a double chin and I fit in XL clothes. I know I don’t have the perfect smile or the perfect face. But I’m sorry for you. Not myself. I’m sorry that you get amusement out of making people feel like s***. I’m sorry that you’ll never get the chance to know the kind of person I am. I may not look okay on the outside, but I’m funny, nice, kind, down-to-earth, not judgmental, accepting, helpful, and I’m super easy to talk to. That’s the same for every other girl on that list that you all put down. Just because we don’t look perfect on the outside does not mean we are ugly. If that’s your idea of ugly then I feel sorry for you. Like seriously? Get a life.”
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Lynelle admits that while she was hurt by the poll at first, she was mostly angry about it. “It outraged me … all of these girls are hurt because of this one person who has no heart or sympathy for anything,” she told CBC News of the person who started the poll. “I wanted to be the bigger person, and instead of fighting fire with fire, I decided to fight it a different way and make something that was really negative into something really positive.”
Her plan worked, and Facebook commenters have been applauding Lynelle for her bravery at standing up to bullies. Wrote one Facebook user: “Good for you Lynelle for taking a stand against not just bullying but cyberbullying. They have no idea how beautiful you are not just on the outside but inside as well. They also have no idea the wonderful friendship they will miss out on and the most fun-loving and most honest-to-goodness person they just lost. You have a beautiful smile and you are a beautiful person. Stay true to who you are and let no one bring you down. So wish I could have ¼ of your strength and wisdom.” Another added, “I admire your bravery Lynelle! You responded in a mature and positive way. Don’t let these lowlifes bother you. Bullies are the ugliest people.”
Even other girls included on the list thanked Lynelle for standing up for them. “Lynelle what you’ve done with this situation shows true courage. Thank you so much for supporting myself and all the girls on the list,” wrote one of Lynelle’s fellow students.
Lynelle says she’s been surprised by the reaction to her post, but that she’s feeling more confident than ever. “After I saw all of the support I got after I posted that message on Facebook, my confidence was boosted more than before,” she told Today. “I’m overwhelmed with the response. I don’t even have words for it. I’m trying to show people to combat negativity with positivity, and I hope people are getting the message.”
Andrew Hickey, principal of Lynelle’s high school, told Today that the poll was not typical of the Holy Trinity High School student body. “As a school staff, we have addressed this matter with the student population and provided information to parents and guardians,” he said. “District personnel, such as the Senior Education Officer for the school and the Safe and Caring Schools Itinerant, are also providing support to our school and have been meeting with students at the school class-by-class and discussing this topic.”
But Lynelle says that this behavior is more common than it should be. “Cyberbullying happens in every school,” she told Today. “I was taught to take the high road. I think we teens need to encourage and compliment each other more than be mean to each other. It’s also important for teens to think about those who are doing the bullying. They’re obviously not happy with something in their own lives and have to take it out on others.”
(Photo: Facebook/Lynelle Cantwell)
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