8-Year-Old Went On A Run Because Her Crush Called Her 'Fat,' Twitter Sends Love
Nov. 18 2019, Updated 2:29 p.m. ET
One of the biggest struggles human beings have is with body image. It's the reason why weight loss programs, crash diets, Instagram fit accounts, and magazines all about muscle development and fat loss are so damn popular.
When I was a kid, I didn't really worry about my body image so much. I'd just eat whatever I wanted, run around like an animal (if I felt like it), play video games, sleep, wake up, and do it all over again.
But with greater access to unrestricted media, it seems like kids are growing up faster now more than ever. For young girls in particular, unrealistic representations of women's sizes and bodies in the media can be damaging for self-esteem and body-image. For young women, there can be a lot of pressure to be a certain size or body shape in order to get positive attention or be seen as desirable and lovable by a partner.
Like this 8-year-old girl, Alyssa, who went for a run after a boy she liked called her "fat."
Alyssa's older cousin, Briseyda Ponce typically goes running every day. When she was about to head out for her jog, Alyssa asked if she could tag along. Ponce said sure.
During their exercise, she told Briseyda that her classmates, along with her crush, Hector, called her fat.
Briseyda gave her younger cousin a pretty awesome response:
"I [explained] to her how beauty isn't physical, and if she wants to work out or run it has to because she wants to be healthy, not because of others' opinions about her body. We [laughed] it off."
During the run, Alyssa got tired and decided it was time for a snack.
Briseyda said her cousin soon forgot about the run entirely, so instead they walked around the block, chatting.
Briseyda then shared Alyssa's adorable story on Twitter.
People had nothing but kind things to say to the 8-year-old.
Tons of people tweeted at Briseyda, giving words of encouragement, along with some choice words for Hector.
In all seriousness though, I want to know where she got that Rice Krispie treat from?
