Many know her as the youngest member of the Kardashian/Jenner clan. Some see her as the girl who posts too many luxurious selfies, or as the 18-year-old dating Tyga. But this week, Kylie Jenner is something we've never seen her as before: a victim.
Kylie has been open with her struggles in the past. Online trolls, commenters, and bullies have criticized her every move and look. Her new hair, the size of her lips, that risqué outfit--everyone has something to say. But is that the price of being famous? You share every aspect of your life, so you have to expect some hate, right?
Nope. At the beginning of the month, she launched her new Instagram campaign, #IAmMoreThan. Each day, she's shared stories of "six incredible people who have become heroes in their own way by taking bullying and turning it into something positive." These individuals have seen the worst of the worst. Kylie's fourth feature, Lizzie Velasquez, was once named the world's ugliest woman, because of the rare congenital disease she suffers from. Two days before that, she shared the story of Erica Shenck, a plus-size model who overcame body haters and landed a cover on Women's Running Magazine.
These people don't live a lavish lifestyle like Kylie. They don't get paid millions for a Balmain campaign or have mansions to come home to. These humans are intelligent, strong, and powerful. Their ability to turn hatred into growth is inspirational, and it can resonate with anyone, even Kylie.
"People are so quick to say horrible things about me every day over and over and sometimes I can't take it...and I've absolutely lost a part of myself," Kylie wrote. "Let's change this together."
Kylie's act may be small: a six-day digital campaign, highlighting a handful of people in just a week. But it has shed light on a side of bullying we rarely see. Sometimes, the most idolized people in the world are attacked. Mean-spirited words are heard, even if they're buried in a sea of Instagram comments. They're loud. They're deafening. And they need to stop.
Kylie's not changing for anyone. She'll still post scandalous shots of herself in a bikini or with an edgy new hairstyle. But beneath her social media accounts, she's more than that. We all are.
You go, Kylie.
