When Carleigh O’Connell, 14, was the victim of some cruel graffiti, she decided she wasn’t going to let the bullies win.
 
After hearing in school about the bullies who had spray painted the words “Carleigh’s ass” onto a cement block in their town, Carleigh made a very brave decision. She took a brilliant photo of herself next to the graffiti, and shared it on social media so that it would go viral. Her mum explained: "[Carleigh] decided that she was going to be stronger than hurtful words on the concrete and that she was going to be proud of her figure. She also told me that she feels complete sympathy for the teenagers across the country who face this every day. She understands and wants all of them to find strength inside to rise above the nastiness and be empowered by who you are, how you are made and what is in your heart."
 
Carleigh has said that the whole experience has been empowering: “The biggest message I want to get across is just to be strong, and that anyone who is experiencing bullying and anything like that, that they're not alone and there's people there for them -- and I'm one of them."
 
Take a look at the photo below to see how this 14-year-old girl faced the bullies with a smile, and won. 
 

 

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