Melissa Blake, a writer, endured a barrage of online abuse for her appearance after a 2019 CNN article. Despite being labeled “too ugly” due to Freeman Sheldon syndrome, she defiantly responded on Twitter: “During the last round of trollgate, people said that I should be banned from posting photos of myself because I’m too ugly.”
Refusing to succumb to bullying, Melissa posted a daily selfie for a year, increasing her Instagram following from 7,500 to 100,000. Each selfie became a celebration of her personality and a platform to address disability misconceptions.
In challenging stereotypes, Melissa aimed to present a more accurate picture of disability, stating, “It’s a way of taking back my power and painting a more accurate picture of disability.” Her resilience serves as an inspiration, urging others to ignore bullies and emphasizing that true beauty transcends appearances.
