My life of torture by bullies from the age of 13
Miss Ireland on battling a stalker and sneering classroom trolls
MISS IRELAND Chelsea Farrell has told how she was ‘tortured’ on social media throughout secondary school.
The 19-year-old, from Ardee, Co. Louth, also revealed that she was the victim of a stalker who was later convicted.
Speaking from London, where she is due to take the stage for Miss World on December 14, Chelsea told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘I was absolutely tortured on social media from the age of 13 until I left school.
‘I knew the person who was doing it. They made no attempt to hide their identity and I also knew the people who were nice to me online but were horrible about me behind my back.
‘The thing was, it made me stronger and I found a way of coping with it by talking about it and not shying away from what was going on. It was upsetting obviously, but I was never really scared.’
‘Always find someone you can confide in’
Chelsea added: ‘In sixth year, the person who was the main culprit confirmed what I thought all along. They approached me and apologised and admitted they were acting through jealousy.
‘It was decent of them to say sorry, but it didn’t really wash with me, as at that stage the damage was done and the hurt had been caused.’
Ever since she was crowned Miss Ireland in September, Chelsea has been visiting secondary schools in Louth educating students about the dangers of social media.
‘I tell them that social media is the curse of our generation, which I firmly believe it is when used in the wrong way,’ she said. ‘But I use myself as an example of someone who discovered that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
‘Ironically, I find that while social media can be the cause of the problem, it can also help as I have been messaged by loads of both girls and boys asking for advice. They may be reluctant to come up to me after a talk but will chat openly to me on the internet.’
Thankfully, Chelsea had a circle of close friends – that she’s known since she was six – to get her through the tough times at school.
‘They were there for me when I needed them and now when I speak to kids in schools I always say to them tell someone, tell anyone but just don’t bottle it up,’ she said.
‘It is dangerous to try and go through it on your own – that would be an important message to get out, always find someone you can confide in.’
It wasn’t just online trolls that caused Chelsea problems, she felt it in every-day life as well.
She added: ‘When I would walk into the classroom there would be a group of girls giving me dirty looks, sniggering and sneering at me which, when you’re a 13-year-old, is hard to handle.’
Even more concerning was the fact that at the same time she was being stalked.
She’s reluctant to say too much on it, but conceded: ‘The person who did it was caught, brought before the courts and convicted.
‘Thankfully, he admitted it and I didn’t have to go and give evidence. I’m a strong and very positive person but that would have been difficult.
‘The reason I don’t want to say too much about it is there are some scary people out there, something I know first hand, and I don’t want to give them any encouragement.’