I was ‘relentlessly’ bullied as a kid — joke’s on them, I’m a model now

A teenage girl who claims she was mocked “relentlessly” as a child has beaten the bullies – by becoming a model.

Tegan-Riley Elliott, now 16, says she hated primary school due to the constant comments.

But, after signing for a modelling agency, she says she’s more confident than ever – and wants to inspire others.

Tegan, from Erdington, West Mids., said: “My confidence is crazy at the minute – I love it.

“I had none of that in primary school and I still don’t know why I was bullied.

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“I spent most of my time by myself and constant name calling and pointing, it never stopped.

“I wasn’t learning anything in school – it was just constant bickering and whispering about me.

“But now I’m so excited about the future and it’s helped to talk to people. I know it sounds so typical but talking to people really helps.”

Tegan says she spent most of her primary school years on her own after she started getting bullied in Year Two.

Despite pleading with the school to intervene, she alleges was simply told to keep away from the bullies and things continued to get worse.

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In the following years Tegan made a new group of friends but sadly ran into the same problem when one person in the group didn’t like her, she claims.

Shot of all confidence, she began locking herself in her room and stopped speaking to anyone.

Tegan said: “[They] got a group of boys to laugh at me and point at me.

“[They would] always comment on my hair and nails, meaning I’d bite them down.

“A group of four boys pushed me in the mud and punched, slapped and kicked me – [the bully] encouraged them to do that and laughed.”

Thankfully for Tegan her secondary school experience was far different – making many new friends – despite initially being “terrified” about it.

Her newfound confidence allowed her to explore her passion of modelling and she is now signed up to JLG modelling agency whilst she completes her college studies.

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Tegan did her first paid shoot two weeks ago and is in the process of going abroad for further shoots.

The college healthcare student said: “I’ve always had an interest in modelling but I was anxious if I’d be accepted.

“My mum signed me up to an agency and she said I’d been accepted.

“It was crazy and now I’m doing photoshoots almost every week to build up my portfolio on the agency.”

Tegan also works with the NSPCC every year during anti-bullying week to share her story.

“It felt like there was a weight lifted when I spoke to someone.

“It’s not your fault and you don’t need to change.

“Everyone is perfect in their own way and no one should change themselves because of other people.”

A spokesperson for the NSPCC said: “Tegan is a valued Lived Experience Advocate for the NSPPC and she has done fantastic work helping to raise awareness of the impact bullying can have on children and young people.”

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