This Model Was Bullied For Having Red Hair - But Got Her Own Back
After learning to love her locks, Tiegan has landed a modelling contract. [Photo: Facebook/Tiegan Alisha - Modelling]
Carrot Top, Ginger, Milk bottle – you name it redheads have been called it (and as a fellow ‘ginge’ I should know!) but one teenager who was bullied at school has had the last laugh after landing a top modelling contract and setting up her own beauty pageant to inspire others to celebrate individuality.
When it comes to teasing, redheads are often seen as fair game. Actress Jessica Chastain recently revealed she considered dying her red hair blonde earlier in her career due to the difficulty she faced getting auditions. And Supermodel Lily Cole spoke out recently about the abuse she suffered as a ‘carrot top’ and how she was bullied at school. “Red hair is an issue,” she said. “Particularly in this country. Teachers often let it [bullying] happen because there isn’t a stigma around it in the way there is, quite rightly, about something like racism.”
This kind of torment is something Tiegan Bingham-Roberts can well relate to. As the only redhead in her immediate family and at her primary school, the 17-year-old from Gloucestershire was often picked on for being different. The part-time sales assistant, who plans to study law at university next year, said her hair colour ‘made me feel like everyone was looking at me and talking about me.’
Tiegan wants to encourage others to embrace their individuality. [Photo: Facebook/Tiegan Alisha - Modelling]
She told FEMAIL: 'The worst part about the bullying was being singled out. If there was a group activity at school I’d be singled out for having red hair.
'I was the only person in my whole junior school who had red hair which made it really awkward. I remember once in Year 6 in science class, we were learning about our genes from our parents and how we have similar traits.
'The bullies said to me “you’re not like your parents, you’re not the same because you’re ginger - are you adopted?”.’
'You could liken it to people who get picked on because of the colour of their skin or whether they are disabled. Blondes don’t get picked on for being blonde,’ she said.
Tiegan is using her experiences to inspire others [Photo: Facebook/Tiegan Alisha - Modelling]
In an attempt to boost her self-worth and fit in more with the looks of her fellow pupils, Tiegan even died her red hair brown, but instead of increasing her confidence, she found it had the opposite effect. And after deciding to go back to her red roots Tiegan discovered a new-found self-confidence in her looks. Encouraged to embrace her difference, Tiegan felt inspired to enter beauty pageants and modelling auditions where she found her hair colour was actually an asset. She started winning modelling contracts for hair accessory and fashion brands and taking part in catwalk shows.
And wanting to use her experiences to inspire others Tiegan has now become an ambassador for the group Bullies Out and plans to run her own beauty pageant to raise money for the group and help others struggling with their own self-worth. Described as an ‘alternative beauty pageant’ the event called ‘Everybody is Beautiful’ and running this spring/summer will celebrate individuality.
Tiegan is an ambassador for Bullies Out. [Photo: Instagram/Bulliesoutuk]
Offering advice for anyone being bullied for being a redheard, the inspiring teen had this to say: ‘I would say be proud to be yourself and be proud to be different from everyone else.
‘Never dye your hair and never give in to the bullies!’
Do you have an inspirational story to share? Get in touch @YahooStyleUK.
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