Hero Of The Day: Kheris Rogers Creates " Flexin' In My Complexion " After Being Bullied Over Her Dark Skin

[Sugar Cookie]

An 11-year-old girl has revealed how being bullied over her skin color inspired her to start her own clothing line.

Kheris Rogers from California was taunted by her classmates and teachers and as a result was suffering from low self-esteem.

However, when her older sister Taylor Pollard took a picture of her and posted it to Twitter, it quickly went viral and Kheris was was finally able to see her uniqueness as a positive thing.

And this newfound confidence and awareness that diversity should be celebrated instead of ridiculed inspired Kheris to launch her own clothing line and campaign called #Flexin' in My Complexion.


Speaking to Teen Vogue about her battle with body image, she explained that from a young age she felt 'unwanted'.

'It would hurt my feelings when the other kids didn't want to play with me on the playground. I knew that if I looked more like them, they would be nicer to me. I felt even more confused when kids that looked like me made fun of my skin and called me names. It really made me want my skin to be lighter,' she said.


And while many influencers use their cash to buy designer handbags and more expensive camera equipment, the tween CEO is saving all the money she makes to put towards her college education.

She also shared how her experience is helping others who are being discriminated against because of their skin color.

'I still get many emails from adults, parents, and other kids my age saying how they are also teased for their complexion, treated differently in school, and just feel like they don't fit in because they have darker skin. They said I gave them the courage to stand up for themselves and to love their skin,' Kheris explained.

Worn by actress Lupita Nyong'o and rapper Drake, her collection of t-shirts feature the empowering slogan 'Flexin' in My Complexion', and were recently shown at New York Fashion Week during the Harlem show.

More recently, she has collaborated with Nike and currently appears in its latest kidswear campaign.

But she isn't letting her overnight success go to her head.

'Every time someone shares my posts and pictures, it lets me know how important my message is to the world. I want everyone to know how much I appreciate it and I never want to take it for granted,' she added.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...bullied-dark-skin-launches-clothing-line.html

 

[cubby]

She's beautiful. All of those "people" that teased her were just jealous cause they're not beautiful, too, neither inside nor out.

 

[McDanel]

Holy moley, she's gorgeous!

 

[kitcatmcgee]

I thought the exact same thing as you @cubby , anyone that's teased her, it's totally because they're jealous. Ashame she had to overcome self esteem issues so early, what the fuck kind of adult picks on a child for their complexion.

 

[Sejanus]

She is going to break a lot of hearts, and necks.
Her eyes cut right through you.

Now my question in this is this.
Teachers taunted her too?
Are they still teaching?

 

[Satanica]

I have never understood this. Personally, I love all the complexions, and dark skin is so beautiful to me. Probably what I really don't understand is jealousy and bullying about it. Can't relate to that at all.