Though we’re taught to never judge a book by its cover, and that beauty is only skin deep, many still find themselves the subject of harsh bullying based on their appearance alone.
Journalist and writer Melissa Blake knows all about this. Her essays on disability, relationships, and pop culture have informed and inspired people around the world, and yet she still finds herself on the end of insults from bullies who don’t like how she looks.
38-year-old Melissa has been forced to endure being likened to a ‘blob fish’ and a ‘potato with a face’.
Fortunately, she had the perfect way to fire back at the haters.Melissa Blake syndrome
Melissa Blake was born with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, a condition caused by a mutation of the gene responsible for moving substances between cells during development. During her lifetime, she’s had to endure around 25 surgeries, whilst she also uses a wheelchair to get around.
One common symptom of Freeman-Sheldon syndrome is an altered facial appearance, with features including a smaller, ‘pursed’ mouth and decreased nose cartilage.
In Melissa’s case, this differentiation from ‘the norm’ has resulted in horrible abuse online. On September 8 she took to Twitter to open up on the vile comments she’s received. One person likened her to a ‘blob fish’, another a ‘potato’.
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