Kylie Jenner, the youngest member of the Kardashian clan at just 18 years old, has had fortune, fame, and an unhealthy amount of attention for most of her young life. She accidentally launched the #KylieJennerChallenge, which inspired young people to suck on shot glasses, bottle caps, and hairspray lids to get those puffed-up KJ lips – which she recently and abashedly revealed are helped along by lip fillers. #awkward
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However, Kylie has recently been using the considerable (and quite frankly dangerous) amount of influence she has on young minds to launch an anti-bullying campaign on Instagram. The agenda is labeled #IAmMoreThan, and aims to examine the stories of a number of people who have suffered from bullying.
Kylie posted on Instagram: “I am so excited to launch my new @Instagram campaign #IAmMoreThan. For the next six days, I will be sharing stories of 6 incredible people who have become heroes in their own way by taking #bullying and turning it into something positive. I’ve gotten to talk and bond with all of these people whose stories you will see on my page. I think you will all fall in love with them just like I did. I want to encourage you, my fans, to share something positive about yourselves. I’ll be reading as much as I can so that some of you can be a part of this as well! Let’s do this #IAmMoreThan #StopBullying”
At first glance, you may think this is a bit rich coming from a girl who has seemingly grown up with everything. Looks, money, opportunity; everything that people who are victims of bullying often lack. However, Kylie Jenner has actually been bullied every day of her life, by complete strangers. You only need to glance at the comments left on her social media sites to see that. She revealed through a series of Snapchats that she has been bullied from the age of 9, and feels like that sometimes it’s from “the whole world.” Considering how long the limbs of social media are nowadays, she has a definite point.
True to her word, Kylie has revealed her first victim. 21-year-old Boston college student, Renee DuShane, suffers from Pfeiffer syndrome; a genetic disorder that affects the growth of the bones in her face. She has had a number of surgeries, including one when she was a baby to allow her brain to grow. When Renee was 18, she posted an unedited, makeup free picture and message of positivity, #loveyourself, on Tumblr, which went viral. Three years later, it has inspired Kylie Jenner, and she has reached out to help Renee spread her message.
Renee DuShane
When her first story went up on Monday, Kylie posted: “Renee is so strong willed and a super intelligent girl who told me that while growing up she never had many issues with bullying. ‘I went to school with all the same kids all the way through high school. Right around senior year, I started getting very anxious about having to explain my condition to all of the new people I would meet in college. I started going on Tumblr and saw lots of profiles of positive, confident people’ that inspired her to start sharing her photos even with her insecurities.” The response to it has been extremely positive.
I think we need to give Kylie Jenner her due on this one. Although the Kardashians tend to be constant sources of casual ridicule, this is an initiative that could genuinely do some good. Kylie is right in the thick of the social media generation, and is of an age that is relatable to young people who are victims of bullying. Of course, haters gonna hate, but let’s put aside the Kardashian stigma for a week and allow this good-hearted campaign to do its thing.
Images via Independent.co.uk and Designtaxi.com
The post Go Girl! Kylie Jenner Launches Anti-Bullying Campaign appeared first on SHESAID Australia.