Underdogs Rise Up
The quiet kid in the corner might just surprise you someday. Plenty of A-listers know that feeling well because they lived it. Bullying nearly broke them, but something inside refused to quit.
Lady Gaga
Through her Born This Way Foundation, Lady Gaga has made it her mission to champion kindness and mental health awareness—a calling deeply rooted in her own past. She endured persistent bullying and isolation during her school years, but emerged from those dark days of depression to become a beacon of resilience.
Carlos M. Vazquez II, Wikimedia Commons
Eminem
The quiet kid bounced between schools, constantly targeted by bullies and struggling to find his place. After being brutally beaten and hospitalized with a concussion, young Eminem's childhood struggles were far from over. He later opened up about the same to Anderson Cooper in 2010.
DoD News Features, Wikimedia Commons
Taylor Swift
Back in middle school, this star faced cruel mockery and social isolation from classmates who targeted her country music passion and fashion choices. Rather than letting these folks win, she channeled that pain into songwriting, using music as her emotional sanctuary.
Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons
Rihanna
Rihanna knew the sting of cruel classmates all too well growing up, as she faced ridicule and teasing about her looks that left her feeling like an outsider. Today, she is one of the most successful entertainers and businesswomen, with an estimated net worth of around $1.4 billion.
Ed Sheeran
Picture a young Ed Sheeran in the school hallways, enduring daily taunts about his red hair, thick glasses, and persistent stutter—the classic target for brutes looking for an easy mark. But music became his secret superpower, helping him find his voice and rebuild his shattered confidence.
Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons
Winona Ryder
Named after a Minnesota town, Ryder faced brutal domineering in her early years, with classmates targeting her unique style, haircut, and passion for acting through physical attacks. The harassment grew so severe that she had to leave school entirely, completing her education in a different environment.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Chris Rock
Rock, one of the few Black kids at his school, suffered from physical assault and severe bullying. However, in a stunning turn of events, the same unfiltered experiences that he would later express via comedy enabled him to become one of the most revered voices in entertainment.
Andy Witchger, Wikimedia Commons
Chris Rock (Cont.)
He has bagged multiple prestigious awards, such as three Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album for Roll with the New, Bigger & Blacker, and Never Scared, as well as four Primetime Emmy Awards for his comedy specials and writing work, including The Chris Rock Show.
Zendaya
Today, Zendaya stands as a powerful voice for self-acceptance, helping others accept their unique qualities. This is a stance that springs from her own personal experience. Back in school, cruel taunts of "string bean" targeted her height, chipping away at her confidence.
MTV International, Wikimedia Commons
Zendaya (Cont.)
Yet this former child model and backup dancer converted that pain into purpose. She rose to become the youngest winner of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress. Zendaya actively speaks out against unrealistic beauty standards and encourages embracing individuality.
Mingle MediaTV at https://www.flickr.com/photos/minglemediatv, Wikimedia Commons
Justin Bieber
You know how intimidators can sometimes fuel your fire? That's precisely what happened with Justin Bieber when his classmates mocked his musical passion. Before anyone knew it, he'd become the youngest solo male artist to top Billboard's Hot 100, snagged a Grammy, and multiple American Music Awards.
Daniel Ogren, Wikimedia Commons
Henry Golding
You might assume that being ranked the ninth most handsome man in the world would shield Henry Golding from challenges, but his journey hasn't been that simple. Despite his striking looks, Golding wrestled with his mixed heritage and sense of belonging while growing up, later facing industry discrimination.
Selena Gomez
Back when she was just another kid in school, Selena Gomez faced trouble from classmates who couldn't accept her dreams of becoming an actress. But those early issues only fueled her rise to stardom, first capturing hearts on Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place.
Disney-ABC Domestic Television, Wizards of Waverly Place (2007)
Selena Gomez (Cont.)
She then soared as a chart-topping singer, and even stepped behind the scenes to executive produce Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. Gomez has been a prominent advocate for mental health awareness and philanthropy, including her work as an ambassador for UNICEF.
Justin Timberlake
With ten Grammy Awards and four Emmys to his name, Timberlake seems like someone who was always destined for stardom. Yet this entertainment powerhouse actually faced his share of schoolyard bullying and was decidedly "uncool" growing up. After finding his footing with NSYNC, Timberlake blossomed into a multi-talented singer.
Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons
Demi Lovato
Let's discuss one of today's highly vocal advocates for mental health. Her journey from a tormented schoolgirl, mocked for her appearance and interests, to a brilliant singer-performer with seven studio albums and multiple awards showcases remarkable resilience. Lovato has consistently used her success to amplify conversations about emotional well-being.
Ali Shaker/VOA, Wikimedia Commons
Megan Fox
This woman experienced bullying partly because of her aspirations to become an actress, which made her a target among her peers. Fox recalled avoiding lunchtime by eating in the bathroom to escape torment and being made fun of by other students.
Ross from hamilton on, Canada, Wikimedia Commons
Tom Holland
When Marvel cast the youngest-ever live-action Spider-Man, they found their perfect Peter Parker in Tom Holland, though his path to superhero stardom started much earlier. As a kid training in dance, Holland faced relentless bullying from classmates who mocked his artistic passions.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Shawn Mendes
Here's a perfect digital-age success story: Shawn Mendes turned YouTube guitar tutorials into his own musical classroom, then bravely shared his developing talents through online videos—even when school bullies tried to tear him down. His digital determination paid off big time.
Ariana Grande
That powerhouse vocal range that earned Ariana Grande her Grammy wasn't built overnight. It was perfected through years of performing, starting with her breakthrough role on Nickelodeon's Victorious. She experienced her share of criticism and public bullying about her appearance during those early years.
Nickelodeon, Victorious (2010)
Lizzo
For young Lizzo, mastering the flute became her sanctuary when classmates mocked her love of Radiohead and unique fashion choices. That early classical training would prove prophetic as the same musical virtuosity that gave her strength during difficult school days later dazzled audiences when she played President Madison's crystal flute.
Daniel Benavides, Wikimedia Commons
Michael B Jordan
That troubled kid in school, teased mercilessly about his name and acting dreams, had no idea he was writing the first chapter of an incredible comeback story. Jordan powered through the taunts to become a Hollywood force, starring in blockbusters like Creed and Black Panther, directing his own projects.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Black Panther (2018)
Halsey
Look at Halsey now—the chart-topping musician and passionate mental health advocate who commands global stages and inspires millions. This woman started out as Ashley Frangipane, a teenager who knew the sting of schoolyard cruelty all too well. People once targeted her for being different and not fitting in.
Nicki Minaj
Would you believe the rapper who holds an astounding 149 Billboard Hot 100 entries once struggled with brutes in school? Nicki Minaj's journey from a frequently-moving student facing jealous classmates to hip-hop's most influential female voice is nothing short of remarkable.
