When life gives you lemons—or in this case, not-so-nice comments—turn them into lemonade! Take the case of 32-year-old food blogger Jenna Bright. Jenna faced a not-so-pleasant remark from an internet troll about her gray hair, but instead of letting it get her down, she decided to respond with a powerful message that has since captured the hearts of many.
In late October, Jenna stumbled upon a comment on a 2014 post featuring her mouthwatering chili recipe. The user wrote: “You look like you’re 70 with your gray hair. You should really think about dyeing it for videos so you don’t come off as such an old hag. Just a thought.” Ouch.
However, Jenna wasn’t shocked. “I’ve had my share of comments about my gray hair over the years, and I’ve never hidden my reasons,” she said. And instead of fuming, she had a lightbulb moment—why not tackle this head-on with a video? Recently awarded the YouTube Rising Star honor, she had the perfect opportunity to film at YouTube Space LA and decided to use it to chat about gray hair, body shaming, and the beauty of aging.
In her heartfelt video, which has since gone viral with over 2.5 million views, Jenna shared that she has a rare autoimmune condition that means she might not live to see 70. With tears in her eyes, she stated, “Every sign of aging I have is proof that I’m still here. I don’t have time for self-criticism or judging others. I’m way more focused on living my life to the fullest in the present.”
Jenna’s journey to self-love wasn’t an easy one. Born with a genetic jaw condition, she had long believed that once she had surgery, she’d finally feel beautiful and happy. “The surgery happened, and while I was thrilled initially, I soon realized I was still just me, with the same old feelings about myself.”
After years of soul-searching, Jenna learned to embrace every aspect of herself. “I’ve got a nose that’s a little crooked, freckles galore, bags under my eyes, and yes—gray hair! And you know what? I love every single bit of it,” she declared.
Her video ignited a wave of positivity across the internet, giving rise to the #BeThatPerson movement, where people share their own stories of body positivity and self-acceptance. “What this world really needs is more folks lifting each other up rather than tearing each other down,” Jenna encourages. “Be that person.”
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In summary, Jenna Bright’s inspiring response to an unkind comment about her gray hair has resonated with millions, proving that true beauty comes from within and that self-acceptance is a journey worth taking.