Miss Lebanon Runner-Up Cybelle Bou Chaaya Opens Up To Us About The Online Bullying She's Facing
Cybelle Bou Chaaya, a contestant in the Miss Lebanon pageant , faced a barrage of online bullying over her voice following the competition . In this exclusive interview, she opens up about her experience, how she coped, and her plans to use her platform for positive change.
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Cybelle Bou Chaaya's Experience with Online Bullying
Initial Reaction to Online Bullying
When Cybelle first encountered online bullying about her voice, she was taken aback. "I was surprised because I had never received comments about my voice before," she said. The unexpected criticism was a jarring experience, but Cybelle remained resilient.
Personal and Emotional Impact
The negative comments and criticism did not deter Cybelle. In fact, they had the opposite effect. "It had no effect on me; on the contrary, it boosted me because I always work on my confidence," she explained. "It made me realize that bullying never represented 1% of reality." While some comments were particularly hurtful, Cybelle’s strong sense of self-worth helped her to rise above them.
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Immediate Response
In the immediate aftermath of the online harassment, Cybelle took a proactive approach. "I posted a video on my social media sharing my experience with cyberbullying," she said. This act of vulnerability and openness garnered widespread support and attention, highlighting the pervasive issue of online bullying.
Support System
Cybelle attributes much of her strength to her support system. "I always had a support system even before the competition, which helped me a lot during the training and the last minutes before the stage. My family is my one and only support system," she shared. Their unwavering support was crucial in helping her navigate this challenging period.
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Coping and Resilience
Effective Coping Mechanisms
One of Cybelle's most effective strategies for dealing with bullying was to ignore destructive criticism. "Ignoring destructive criticism and my confidence had a major role," she noted. This approach, combined with her self-assuredness, enabled her to stay focused and resilient.
Maintaining Self-Confidence
Cybelle’s self-confidence has been a cornerstone of her resilience. "I've always worked on my confidence, even when I first started my modeling career," she said. "I worked on my physical and mental health by working out and eating healthy, and not comparing myself to anyone. Especially in my industry, where there are a lot of models, you should know you're special."
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Overcoming Moments of Doubt
Like many hard workers, Cybelle faced moments of doubt. "Sometimes you reach a point where you want to stop or are tired, but when you start trusting the process and great timing, everything changes," she explained. Trusting in her journey and the support she received kept her moving forward.
Social Media and Mental Health
The experience significantly altered Cybelle's view of social media. "I never knew social media was such a harsh place until I was under the spotlight," she admitted. "It's somehow a community for bullies and insecure people who hide behind their phones and throw their insecurities at others."
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Advocacy and Awareness
Initiatives Against Cyberbullying
After her experience, Cybelle launched a small campaign against cyberbullying. "I posted a reel on social media as a small campaign or initiative against every type of bullying, especially cyberbullying," she said. Her message is clear: "People should be armed with confidence because it's the key."
Creating a Safer Online Environment
Cybelle believes that more awareness is needed to combat bullying. "People should raise more awareness because, to this day, kids are getting bullied at school, celebrities are getting bullied on social media, and women are getting body-shamed," she emphasized. "Let's at least normalize not commenting or judging people's appearances or looks and only spread positivity."
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