Can you imagine coming home after having an awesome day to an anonymous letter making fun of both your wardrobe and weight? Personally, I would probably lock myself in my room and cry for days.

Kelly Markland experienced this and is here to send a message: you won’t win bullies!

“At first I thought it was a really mean joke,” Markland said. 

And then she saw the note, “Women who weigh 300 pounds should not wear yoga pants!!”

Kelly loves leggings! I mean who doesn’t?! They are comfortable and non-restricting! And she was not going to let this coward get the best of her.

Kelly took to Facebook to vent about the awful letter. She received an amazing amount of support from family and loved ones. Many of her supporters were angered that anyone could be so cruel.

Still, the following day, when she had to get dressed for work, she was nervous. “I had to remember, if I walked around defeated and scared, then whoever sent that letter wins. And I wasn’t going to let that person win. At all,” she told Today in an interview on their website.

At school, Markland received a surprise from her colleagues…

“All the teachers were coming up and hugging me and showing me their leggings. So I knew at that point, it’s not about me anymore, it’s about all women,” she told Today.

Word spread quickly after she posted on Facebook.

“The entire staff, we were all just heartbroken for her because she is the nicest, most giving person in the world,” her friend, Cindy Martin told Today. “And it’s not like she ever wears something inappropriate, or like a half shirt with it.”

“Every time she walks around, everyone goes, ‘She looks so adorable.’ So this was shocking for all of us,” Martin added.

Kelly even received support from parents who showed up to the school wearing leggings.

“It’s been amazing and mind blowing,” she said of the response. “It’s so inspiring to have other people telling me that what they’re doing now is because of this little act of bullying.”

Kelly is running with the opportunity to teach others that you can’t let bullies win. “I knew I can’t hide and act scared because people were counting on me to keep wearing leggings and help them be comfortable with themselves. I wanted to help people feel confident, regardless of what they wear.”

A small part of Kelly even wants to thank the anonymous person for such a rude note: “Only because they started a positive movement by sending me that letter,” she said. “Their intention was for me to feel bad and stop wearing leggings. Instead, women all over will gain more confidence.”

So bullies and body shamers- you won’t win. Especially this time!

 

Image via Today