Denise Laurel recalls overcoming being bullied for her lips: ‘Embrace it!’
Denise Laurel (Images: Instagram/@d_laurel)
Denise Laurel recalled how she overcame being bullied for her lips as she offered her support to others who have gone through the same ordeal.
“I still remember a lady from the photographers team kindly putting lipstick on me cause she said she liked my lips.. then some kids started making fun of me calling me duckie, mojacko, arrow-lips… [Petrie] (from the movie land before time ) and when [I] got in the swim team people called me baluga or charcoal and that lasted for years even years before that incident haha,” Laurel shared via Instagram yesterday, June 1.
“[I] remember trying not to cry before this picture and wiping the lipstick off aww babyyyy haha kids can be mean but we can teach them better,” Laurel added in the post, which came with a throwback photo of her from the said photoshoot.
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Laurel noted how she forced herself to learn “how to talk and smile while folding my lips” just to avoid bullying, but was eventually able to “embrace myself and stopped caring!”
“I let them spread their wings and run free!! Run freeee my lips!! When they got free issue [pa rin] hahah cause [I] couldn’t get casted in some roles kasi distracting daw my features or it’s fake but carry lang cause what’s meant for [you] will always be yours and naging uso din haha,” the actress shared.
(When they got free, however, they were still an issue hahaha ’cause I couldn’t get cast in some roles because my features were apparently distracting or fake, but I just carried on ’cause what’s meant for you will always be yours, and anyway, my kind of lips even became a trend.)
Laurel said that she was only sharing this because she thought of her fans, adding that she sees their comments on being bullied about many things as well.
“Sharing this to encourage [you]! [There’s] no such thing as normal.. the fake standard of beauty changes every couple of years, fashion can be fickle or repetitive but their standard has nothing to do with [you]!” Laurel emphasized.
“[You] are perfectly imperfect just as [you] are and made with so much thought and love! There’s only one [you]! What’s different about [you] is what makes [you] unique! Embrace it!
The actress noted that when one embraces their flaws, others will not be able to do anything about it and “we teach them to embrace themselves and be kinder to themselves as well.”
“[Let’s] create a cycle of compassion for self and others! [I] know a lot of u ladies can relate! I see [you] guys commenting about [your] lips and being bullied for them.. it was all a test to reinforce [you are] appreciation for [yourself] and bring us back to gratitude! enjoy them lipzz! Or ur height, shape!” Laurel highlighted.
“ILaNtAd nyo na (Show them off)! It’s [your] one life! Their opinion can’t live [your] life for [you]! I love seeing people unapologetically themselves! Go!” she added.
This is not the first time the actress encouraged others to accept and love themselves too. Back in December 2019, Laurel recalled being called fat by a co-worker but just brushed it off and promoted self-love. /ra
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