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Dancer in Rebecca Black Video Recovering from Bullying
Photo of Benni Cinkle via Facebook
Those of us who have ever seen the internet will recall that once upon a time, there was a girl named Rebecca Black. She made a music video, and was then mocked the world over by people twice, three times, four times her age.
In that music video was also a girl named Benni Cinkle, who played the part of a dancer. Cinkle made headlines because along with Black, she too was bullied, made fun of and shunned by her classmates and by perfect strangers.
In response, Cinkle created an anti-bullying organization called That Girl In Pink Foundation, to help kids dealing with bullying, depression and anxiety. In a profile, the Orange County Register reports that she's doing just fine these days. The bullying has stopped, and she rarely gets recognized on the street.
But more than that, she has a message for other kids:
"A lot of kids feel like they're trapped at home," Benni says. "I want to tell those kids it's OK. You can be what you want to be. Really, what my nonprofit is all about is that there is hope and there is always something to look forward to."
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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