Childhood Bullies Called Her a ‘Whale’. Now They’re Sliding Into Her DMs

A teenager who was bullied for her weight by classmates took advantage of the COVID lockdown to commit to home workouts — and now says the same boys who once taunted her are sliding into her DMs.

Jessica Turner was 15 when the pandemic forced schools to close, giving her a much-needed break from relentless teasing. “People would make comments like I was walking up the stairs ‘too slowly.’ I had someone call me a whale before,” Turner, now 20, told the Daily Mail.

“They would laugh at me. I never felt like anybody found me attractive, and people would pick on me in class because I was a bigger girl,” she recalled, adding that she often turned to food for comfort.

Growing up in Caterham, England, Turner described her eating habits as heavily carb-loaded. Mornings began with cereal, school lunches were often pizza or muffins, and after-school treats included bakery goods. Dinners were standard home-cooked meals like pasta bake, but she frequently indulged in cakes and chocolate. “It would give me short-term gratification,” she said. “I looked in the mirror and never really felt beautiful.”

At the start of the lockdown, Turner weighed around 230 lbs. “My health was on the line,” she said. “COVID hit and everything shut down and I thought, ‘I’ve got an opportunity to better myself and I have a lot of time on my hands.’”

“It started with home workouts on YouTube, and I started learning lots about nutrition. I watched Joe Wicks and Chloe Ting,” she said, referring to the popular fitness instructors. “I fell in love with the process. Once you start seeing results, it gets easier.”

As the pounds began to come off, Turner noticed loose skin on her arms, legs, and especially her inner thighs. That’s when she turned to weightlifting. “I started to tone up and build muscle. I haven’t looked back since.”

Now weighing approximately 115 lbs., Turner focuses on protein-rich, balanced meals and makes sure to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Currently a law student at the University of Exeter, she says her transformation has also changed how others perceive her — particularly men.

“I never really got any male attention before starting college. I haven’t had any long-term relationships but I’m very career-oriented, so I’m prioritizing that.”

She’s also noticed some familiar faces popping up in her Instagram notifications. “My old classmates follow me on Instagram now, which feels a bit weird — almost scary — because they never really paid me any attention before.” That includes boys who once bullied her for her weight.

“You have guys trying to speak to me [on Instagram] and I’m like, ‘No, I still remember what you did.’”

Turner said the experience has been eye-opening when it comes to society’s treatment of people with larger bodies. “People 100% treat me differently, even on the street. When you’re a bigger girl people don’t respect you as much. I never had someone hold the door open for me. Now I get that all the time.”

Ultimately, Turner hopes her story will inspire others. “I want to share my journey not just to celebrate how far I’ve come, but to show that no matter where you start, it’s possible to rise, grow, and achieve what once felt out of reach,” she said. “If I can do it, so can you.”