New Miss Teen USA 2012 LOGAN WEST: I Was BULLIED For "Not Acting My Skin Color"

Jul 31 | by _YBF

Behind the glamour of the crowns, beaded gowns and adoring fans, Logan West, the newly crowned Miss Teen USA 2012 recently opened up about her personal struggles with bullying while growing up. And we're loving everything about her. Deets on the YBF pageant queen inside.....

She's the first Miss TEEN USA from Connecticut, and the fab chick is already making some waves!

"I'm starting to believe now that I would rather have a bruise than have someone tear a piece out of me with their words,'' Logan West told the Hartford Curant. She was just crowned 2012 Miss Teen USA on Saturday.

Though she has been praised publicly for her beauty and poise (in addition to being very well spoken we might add), Logan recently came forward with the pain she experienced being tormented by classmates growing up. And she's made it one of her causes as the new Miss Teen USA.

Logan, the offspring of a black mother and a white father (both of whom were at the pageant in the Bahamas on Saturday to see her get crowned), says she was often teased for the way walked and talked. And for "acting white." But the college-bound 18-year-old chose to turn the other cheek back in the 7th grade.....and she says it was a big mistake.

MSNBC said about the physical bullying:

As a middle-schooler and high school freshman, West said she was bullied for “not acting her skin color.” She was punched, kicked and stabbed with umbrellas by a group of bullies until it escalated into a fight where she was suspended from school. During her suspension, she came up with her own anti-bullying program that she began promoting around the state after winning the Connecticut Outstanding Teen Pageant in 2010.

"I waited so long to say something that it was almost my fault,'' she said.

The torment went from trash-talking to one person throwing a "chewed" quesadilla at her. And Logan recalled throwing a wad of rice at her.

"Instantly, I knew it was wrong. And my bully got up and punched me right in the face in front of everybody.'' Both of them got suspended for two days. "I loved school with all my heart. I wanted to be up every morning. I was ready to go. I did my homework. But when I was being bullied, I found every excuse not to go to school."

As a result, Ms. West has created a program called "Bully Proof: Empowering Children Today to Prevent Bullying Tomorrow.''

She says the most important thing a child who is being bullied at school can do is to tell an adult. She adds that children need to know the difference between bullying and teasing.

As for what she'd say if she could speak to her bully today:

"I'd say thank you. Because if it weren't for her I would not have the confidence or the strength that I have right now. I gained this whole new sense of strength that I can teach youths how to protect themselves from this horrible epidemic called bullying.''

The 5'7 beauty said in a statement to MSNBC:

“Being Miss Teen USA will give me the opportunity to educate students about bullying on a national level and share my story. It wasn’t always easy, but my parents made sure that I learned how to cope with it and ensure that I didn’t stay introverted."

"I lost who Logan was when I was being bullied, but I found that participating in pageants helped me find ‘her’ again as well as gain the confidence to be a role model and voice for others. During my reign, I hope to share with teens the importance of being true to yourself.’’

Great cause Logan!

More pics:

Miss Teen USA 2010, Kamie Crawford; Miss Teen USA 1995, Keylee Sue Sanders; Miss Teen USA 2011, Danielle Doty; Miss Teen USA 2012 Logan West; Miss Teen USA 2003, Tami Farrell; and Miss Teen USA 2005, Allie LaForce

Logan cites Aaliyah as an influence and loves romantic comedies, Whitney Houston, and turtles!

And she tweeted plenty of pics with her little sister. We guess Beauty Queen-ness runs in the family.

Congrats Logan!

Pics: Twitter/Miss Universe Organization

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Comments

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Bullies, eat your heart out!

Bullies, eat your heart out! The girl you all bullied is now Miss Teen USA! HA! Personally, I don't understand what it means to act your skin color. So, if you're black, you're supposed to be ghetto? Ignorance! SMH!

by Jernero94
11:46 pm - Aug 1, '12

CRY ME A RIVER...PERHAPS IF

CRY ME A RIVER...PERHAPS IF SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN HER SKIN COLOR SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN HOW TO HANDLE SO CALLED BULLYS, BYE GIRL TAKE THE WHITE CROWN AND BE LILLY HAPPY!

by Mi Mi
1:15 pm - Aug 1, '12

Congratulations on her

Congratulations on her winning. ♥

by shuga
11:01 am - Aug 1, '12

Did some of you think before

Did some of you think before you typed? Did you realize you just sat and said all blacks are victimizing others? Did you not just realize that you did whites never bully? I guess you never heard of racism, the one drop rule and the Civil Rights movement. What I see here is the mindset that most of us carry that blacks are bad, evil and do the most harm. You have pretty much embraced what the white man has taught you. No wonder you can't see pass the real issue here. You all have the same awful mindset as these biracials that hate YOU.

by Keys
8:31 am - Aug 1, '12

Good for her! she has a

Good for her! she has a bright future ahead of her! I hope she does big things! SHe'll be a great role model to a lot of young girls

by Tara Lipscomb
8:20 am - Aug 1, '12

I got teased for the same

I got teased for the same thing. Look at her now. Most people who tease you are insecure.

by SparkD
6:30 am - Aug 1, '12

Well I'm happy she is

Well I'm happy she is advocating against bullying because I don't know how many time my black peers called me and my siblings 'African booty scratchers' or told me I had to be with a lite skinned man cause I was too dark...gladly I love myself so it didn't taint me too badly but I suffered as a youth ... Black people we are cruel to each other, the other races might hate us in secret but we will get confrontational with the shit and it's the sad

by Love Jah
12:33 am - Aug 1, '12

You have to understand sis,

You have to understand sis, YOU DEALING WITH THE LOWEST FORM OF NEGROS ON THE PLANET, WHICH IS THE AMERICAN NEGRO. You dealing with a group of people who hate themselves and always WORK AGAINST THEIR BEST INTEREST!!I can say this because THE AFRICAN AMERICAN IS MY TRIBE!!Alrite ....I've heard fools especially black women diss people who are dark in hue, i never understood it.But it's source is the American black woman, that idolize white women or women who are anything but black.

by LetsGetIt
2:12 am - Aug 1, '12

I really don't understand

I really don't understand that. White girls have NOTHING on black women. I always dated black girls in high school, and I was in a 90% white kids school. My sisters were always trying to hook me up with their white friends, but I just wasn't feeling white girls. And I have nothing against white girls. My whole family is white, but I just prefer black girls (specially dark-skinned). I've been married for almost 10 years and I couldn't be happier. My family accepted my wife Natasha, although, to be honest, it wasn't easy at first but it was worth it because they all love her now. So to all my black girls, you girls are smoking-hot and don't let no white girl make you feel otherwise ;)

by andrewschwab85
10:40 am - Aug 1, '12

Ofcourse you'd be happy with

Ofcourse you'd be happy with a black women, THEY KNOW HOW TO ACT WHEN THEY'RE AROUND YOU!! My white brother, you have to understand black women have more respect for white men than black men. IT'S JUST A FACT!!! The reason is because for one black women see white men as God even when they pray , their image of God is you, so to disrespect you is like they're subconsciously disrespecting God. I mean you don't have to put down THESE BEAUTIFUL WHITE WOMEN to make black women feel good.Because for the most part WHITE WOMEN AREN'T THE ONES TELLING BLACK WOMEN THEY AREN'T BEAUTIFUL, IT'S BLACK WOMEN TELLING THEMSELVES THIS!!!!

by LetsGetIt
1:46 pm - Aug 1, '12

I concur. You have no idea

I concur. You have no idea how many times I come to work and these white women are ALWAYS checking to see what I'm wearing or what type of hairstyle I have. Don't get me wrong because I do like white ppl, but they are jealous just like all types of women.

by Happy Lady
12:47 pm - Aug 1, '12

I'm not trying to put anyone

I'm not trying to put anyone in particular down (in this case white girls). I do see, though, that society (specially women) puts more pressure on black women than on their white friends. I see it a lot when my wife and I go to my work parties. She handles it amazingly well, tough and yes, white girls do get jealous as well. The good thing is that I've seen that change over the years. White people (particularly girls) have become more accepting and less critical towards black girls, and I know it's only going to get better. P.S. there's no way tasha would see me as God... lol... if you knew her you'd know what I'm talking about. I told her and teased her about your comment and she almost kicked my butt... Lol... we tease each other a lot, though, so it's all cool.

by andrewschwab85
3:22 pm - Aug 1, '12

Real talk. You definitely

Real talk. You definitely have to be yourself, and be proud of it. . . regardless of your skin color people are gonna hate on you; but ESPECIALLY when you're black and in your own community people like to hate even harder for whatever reason. . . light skinned, dark skinned, medium skinned, skinny, thick, dumb, smart, black folk can find any and every reason to hate on each other its pretty sad, we gotta get better. :D

by Giovanni Dayevid
11:54 pm - Jul 31, '12

Pretty sad what she went thru

Pretty sad what she went thru but I like that she fought back to defend herself even if she did get in trouble. It's a shame how ppl treat others who are biracial. Idk which features appear to be most dominant no one has the rite to force u to claim on race or another she can choose to claim both equally and how she walks talks or behaves should have no influence on what race she should be forced to identify with. Bottom lineshe can wake up everyday & be who she feels like for the day, the valley girl or the sistah girl, its all apart of who she is. Now this bullying mess on a whole is sad and has to end no matter what the basis is race, religion, sex, class, its awful Nd more attn needs to be placed on eliminating the problem. Kids are abein hurt & taking their lives bc the pressure is too much. I hope her org becomes natl success bc its necessary

by Give it up Turn...
11:22 pm - Jul 31, '12

LetsGetIt this is the first

LetsGetIt this is the first time in life you and I have agreed on something. LOL!!! I refuse to even go back and forth with anyone.

by Keys
11:06 pm - Jul 31, '12

lol , i like getting under

lol , i like getting under you black women skin. But come on keys, you know your brotha letsgetit tells the truth ALL THE TIME!!!!

by LetsGetIt
11:19 pm - Jul 31, '12

Good for her. It's soooo

Good for her. It's soooo important to change the state of mind of many people in the black community. Being studious and well-spoken should not be deemed "white qualities." Nor should the way someone dances, walks, etc. Black people are not all alike so there's no such thing as acting black. Do you and let the others live life for themselves.

by CheyPie
8:30 pm - Jul 31, '12

Gorgeous girl. Great

Gorgeous girl. Great platform. Proud of u.

by FrenchieAmerican
6:56 pm - Jul 31, '12

I will make SUREEEEEE , that

I will make SUREEEEEE , that when my beautiful black daughter come into this world THAT SHE WILL GROW UP AROUND A MOSTLY WHITE / MIXED CROWD!!! Because black women will break your spirits down, especially young black girls who came from a single parent home, YOU THINK YOU HEARD RACIST SHIT, have thicks lips and a nose around black women/girls hahaha SHIDDDDD nobody hates west african features more than black women!!!But i say this because i notice.. look at the beautiful black gymnast name Gabby Douglas, look at Logan West, Look at the african sista name Leila Lopes . It just proves that if you surround your children around a mixed/white crowd YOU WONT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS and your kids will be successful!!! I know what you black women are gonna bring up "what about racism" I'D rather my children deal with a white person being racist THAN THEY OWN FUCKING KIND BEING RACIST TOWARD THEM!!! I mean you have your kids growing up around THESE COON ASS NEGROS AND THESE GUTTA MOUTH BLACK FEMALES that came from black women single homes and THAT MENTALLY WILL RUB OFF ON YOUR CHILDREN!!THAT SELF HATRED WILL BE EXTRA THICK ON THEM!! The last thing i would want my offspring doing is disobeying me or asking if they have INDIAN or IRISH IN THEM to feel good about being black!!!

by LetsGetIt
6:53 pm - Jul 31, '12

U sound crazy as hell! Saying

U sound crazy as hell! Saying how bad black people are for talking *ish then in the same breath U TALK *ish about UR own people! Dam! Any race can do better! How about raising yo kids to know better and doing something to CHANGE this stereotype about black people that u just blasted! Do betta people! BLACK POWER FOOL!

by Likeagoodgirl
12:45 am - Aug 1, '12

Black Power , but i bet you

Black Power , but i bet you got a blonde weave in your head, and blue contacts. But BLACK POWER HUH SISTA!!!

by LetsGetIt
2:15 am - Aug 1, '12

NEGRO PulllleasE! I'm darker

NEGRO PulllleasE! I'm darker than my whole family with NATURAL HAZEL BROWN EYES and thick curly hair! I do sometimes add weave because AGAIN ... my hair is full curly and thick and its SUMMER u fool! I don't accentuate what my beautiful BLACK MOTHER BLESSED ME WITH because I have to but because its low maintenance! And your a HATER!!!! Stop hating on those who wanna rock blue contacts or blonde weave! Thats they dam perrogative! But every BLACK woman aint doing it to "look white" just like white chicks dont tan and add lip injections to "look black"! Clearly you dum as hell and know ZERO about women! We just wanna look our best and each woman has her own version of what that is! Go read a book on women dum ass!

by Likeagoodgirl
11:08 am - Aug 2, '12

This statement she made was

This statement she made was directed towards blacks. Particularly the ones that said she "acted white". Why did she not address any insults she receives from whites? Why do biracials constantly attack blacks? They will go hard at blacks for saying anything derogatory but whites are allowed to skate. Many whites give them the side eye and/or they call them niggers and such in private/public, make racially disparaging remarks and jokes to their faces, yet these biracials will automatically charge at blacks but blow off any offenses of whites. That is why I keep them at a distance because I feel they actually hate being black so they attack what they hate about themselves.

by Keys
6:51 pm - Jul 31, '12

Tell it Keys! Please white

Tell it Keys! Please white folks talked about her ass too! They do it behind ya back but they do it too! Glad she overcame it all and teaching the younger kids better! Black & white!

by Likeagoodgirl
12:48 am - Aug 1, '12

She made it very clear that

She made it very clear that by "not acting her skin color" she was bullied by blacks. White people are not going to bully a person of color for not acting urban enough, if anything it comforts them. I think biracial (mixed with black) people seek acceptance within the black community because that is who they more often than not most likely resemble physically. When they are shunned from the black community they often feel resentment IMO. Its like they expect white folks to be bigots but when the group you identify with doesn't accept you, it hurts. I'm still LMFAO that someone threw a chewed quesadilla and a wad of rice. I'm picturing that $hit in my head and I can't stop laughing!!

by tori
8:49 pm - Jul 31, '12

How is this young woman

How is this young woman attacking anyone? She is speaking out against the ACT of bullying and there is no part of her statement that indicates by whom she was bullied. She could have been bullied by (other) Blacks, or by Whites, Asians, or even by Latinos. Even if she were speaking primarily about fellow Blacks, you know very well that "we" are just as capable of discrimination as any other ethnic group. In the Black community, if you're dark-skinned, you're considered as being "too black" and if you're biracial or 'light-skinned', you're viewed as not being black enough! Reality is, bully is completely wrong and NO ONE should be subjected to it. The fact that she is speaking out against it as a teenager shows a level of strength, confidence and courage that she did not have as a younger child.

by ParadigmN.Paradise
7:39 pm - Jul 31, '12

I mean i can't stand a

I mean i can't stand a ignorant ass statement LIKE THIS ONE!!!!I mean regardless of how you feel the sista is right, i know alot of biracial who have more problems from black women and their self hatred than from white people!!!SHIT ME BEING A BLACK MAN, I CAN SAY I HAVE MORE PROBLEMS FROM BLACK PEOPLE THAN WHITE PEOPLE !!! Shit just being real here.... And nobody hates being black MORE THAN BLACK WOMEN !!! IT JUST A FUCKING FACT!!!!!!, who else put blonde weaves in their head, who else call dark skin ugly, who else call thick lips ugly i mean the only time you black women embrace your black features IS WHEN WHITE WOMEN EMBRACE IT... A WHITE WOMAN GET LIPS SURGERY AND YOU all of a sudden start BRAGGING ABOUT YOUR LIPS PUTTING LIP GLOSS AND SHIT ON IT!!!!!!!! I mean it's a damn shameeee how black women are!!! AND YOU ACT AS IF YOUUUUUUU CAN'T SEE THIS SHITTTTTT!!!!!! CAN'T GET MAD AT BI RACIALS FOR TELLING THE DAMN TRUTH ABOUT YOU NEGROS!!!! Damn !!!And while you saying you keep your distance and can't trust mixed race people WHERE THE FUCK YOU THINK U CAME FROM , MOST LIKELY ON DOWN THE LINE A MIXED RACE PERSON alrite so shut that shit up black woman!!!!

by LetsGetIt
7:17 pm - Jul 31, '12

U stupid! My MOTHER AND

U stupid! My MOTHER AND FATHER told me from day one that I was BEAUTIFUL! My weave is because I dont want to deal with pressing hair in 90 degree weather! I lay out TO GET DARKER because my skin GLOWS when Im tan! Where the hell were u people raised????? I have black AND white friends and BOTH have shown hate at one time or another! It's called being FEMALE! We tend to be competitive yes but I DO NOT HATE BEING BLACK nor do I HATE OTHER BLACK WOMEN! I talk shit about Asians Koreans Indians whites blacks! Shit I call a spade a spade and yup I gossip about other chics over coffee wit friends! Has nothing to do wit bring a BLACK WOMEN! Go outside ya box and travel the world! There's a table of chics gossiping about each other in every corner of this world! What a dum naive ass!

by Likeagoodgirl
12:53 am - Aug 1, '12

LMAO, I'm sorry but "throwing

LMAO, I'm sorry but "throwing a chewed quesdilla" is hilarious. She reminds me of Keshia Nichols (with better skin) and her bully stories sound like something Tammy would do to Keshia.

by tori
6:06 pm - Jul 31, '12

Lisa Ray Sub, u clearly are a

Lisa Ray Sub, u clearly are a black bully, you spend ur day on a gossip site responding to every body's comment, if it hurts u that much, then u must feel guilty of something...inferiority maybe...oh well too bad bcuz u are not family or a a friend of mine