GIRL OF THE WEEK: Bullied teen that sets the bar for designers today
Bullying is not an unfamiliar experience. Many of us have been the victim of it at some point in our lives. How should we combat it? Well, you can either argue back, knowing people who judge will always judge, or shut them up in a smarter way. This teenage high school graduate Kyemah McEntyre shows us how deal with bullies by inspiring us to believe in our true beauty and individualism, setting the bar for fashion designers today.
McEntyre is an 18-year-old New Jersey girl, who was the target of bullies through her high school years. But she had a weapon in her defence, and decided to make her own prom dress as a message to those who judged her unfairly. She sketched and sewed her stunning creation, and as a result became the queen of the night. McEntyre’s photo of the night has since received more than 10,000 likes and thousands of shares on Instagram. What’s more powerful is her message to the world.
“@mindofkye_
As an artist I have a completely different point of view compared to most individuals. I am extremely analytical and observant. Throughout the world, we have people who do not notice each others essence and humanity. We Stunt our collective spiritual growth by allowing assumptions and stereotypes to cloud our mind and thus our physical reality. We let these negative ideas get the best of us, and in turn a world of isolation is manifested by our lack of sensitivity and desire to sympathize with each other. This results in a world in which people live within the confines of their own space, isolated from each other and separated from the rest of the world. Sometimes we get trapped in our own prejudice ways. We don’t notice how the idea of a particular type of person changes the way we live our lives. The most creative people are the ones who step out of their comfort zone and take advantage of the world around them. My abilities as an artist allows me to experience the benefits that versatility fosters. Being exposed to all kinds of people and cultures is the muse for my artwork. I am an aspiring artist who is very passionate about the connection between art and the world. I believe that in order for society to gain a wider horizon, we have to be willing to acknowledge other people from differences, beliefs, morals, and values. #kyebreaktheinternet I love you guys, because of you all I continue to keep pushing no matter the circumstance. Let’s try this again ✊🏾💕💕“
There are so many aspects of McEntyre’s statement that give me Holy Grail moments. My favourite one is: “I believe that in order for society to gain a wider horizon, we have to be willing to acknowledge other people from differences, beliefs, morals, and values.” This is exactly why The Rushing Hour was born. McEntyre’s overnight success came from a generous vision and showed us the power of beauty with a purpose. Designers are educators, we can certainly learn a lot from this girl.
Originally published at therushinghour.com on September 27, 2015.
