Bullying, in my opinion, stands out as one of the most repugnant aspects of contemporary civilization.

Prejudice based on trivial attributes like appearance constitutes genuinely reprehensible behavior, and unfortunately, social media has become a platform where individuals can engage in unpleasant exchanges while hiding behind relative anonymity.

Melissa Blake experienced this firsthand. A writer told she was “too ugly” to share images of herself by online bullies.

These hurtful comments followed an essay she wrote for CNN in 2019, where a YouTuber posted a photo of her, leading to hundreds of people criticizing her appearance. Melissa, who has Freeman Sheldon syndrome, faced derogatory labels like “blob fish” and “whale.”

Rather than succumb to the malicious trolls, she took a unique and empowering stance.

Melissa, addressing the comments on Twitter, said, “During the last round of trollgate, people said that I should be banned from posting photos of myself because I’m too ugly. So I’d just want to mark the occasion with these three selfies…”

This tweet garnered significant attention online, with many rallying to Melissa’s defense. Undeterred, she continued to share a photo every day for a year after being told she was so unattractive she should be “banned” from taking selfies.

As a result, her Instagram following surged from 7,500 to 100,000. Melissa, 39, not only shared daily photos but also addressed themes such as impairments. She emphasized that each selfie accurately reflected her personality, turning each one into a celebratory message.

“It’s a way for me to reclaim my power and paint a more accurate picture of disability,” she explained. “Because the one we now have?

It’s more 1950 than 2020, with many myths that portray handicapped people as burdens on society. On the contrary, we live complete lives, and I’m very delighted to have been able to demonstrate that for an entire year.”

Melissa’s resilience and courage in facing the despicable trolls who aimed to bring her down for amusement are commendable.

Melissa, if you happen to read this, please accept my gratitude. Thank you for inspiring others to disregard bullies and for illustrating that true beauty goes beyond the surface. Thank you for being yourself!

If you’re proud of Melissa and advocate for a world free of bullying, please share this story.