Despite being severely harassed at school, bride Belinda Vickers has proven she’s stronger than the haters.
Admitting on national TV that she’d never been on a date or had a boyfriend by the age of 29 is not the most difficult thing Married at First Sight bride Belinda Vickers has been through.
Neither is marrying complete stranger Patrick Dwyer on the show. Rather, it was the relentless bullying she experienced in high school.
“I went to an elite private school in Melbourne – very respected in the community, very academic, and as soon as I started there in Year 7, I was picked on,” she shares.
But, Vickers adds, the bullying she endured went far beyond name-calling.
“Pretty much, the whole year group had it in for me. I only stayed on that school for a year and a half but even now, I can’t believe I survived it.”
That terrible time made door-to-door salesperson Vickers the strong woman she is today, she says, but it wasn’t an easy journey to self-acceptance.
Why do you think you were a target for bullies in school?
There was nothing I did to deserve what happened to me but I think it came down to the fact I was very skinny and scrawny. I had frizzy hair, pale skin and I was very flat-chested. I was the weakling of the year group and that made me a big target from the get-go.
How was it handled at your school?
My parents contacted the school more than once, but the school didn’t really take any responsibility. I think they just wanted it all to go away. So I left there halfway through Year 8 and while I found friends at my new school, the bullying from students at my old school went online. I was then cyber-bullied.
How did that affect you?
I’ve thought about it a lot. I think it has impacted how I relate to guys because even though now I’m a confident person, like, I can talk to a guy, I do have walls up so I may come across as a bit stand-offish. So I do think the bullying is part of the reason I’ve never had a relationship. I’m scared to get hurt maybe?
Have you ever confronted any of your school bullies?
When I was 18 I went to a club and a group of those girls were there, too. That was the first time I’d seen them since I was 13. I immediately had a sick feeling in my stomach. They followed me into the bathroom and confronted me but I pretended they had the wrong person. It was awful.
When did life change for you?
The bullying eased when I was around 17, but it really was when I was 20 and started my job in door-to-door sales. You face a lot of verbal abuse and aggressive people, but I made up my mind that I was going to be the very best person at the job. It really helped me build up my confidence and resilience. I developed a really thick skin and I’m good at the job!
Why did you decide to go on Married at First Sight?
I don’t want to hit my 30s and still be single! I decided to apply on my sister’s wedding day. I was her bridesmaid and I realised I didn’t want to get left behind. It felt like I really needed expert help when it comes to relationships because obviously I haven’t been successful at all on my own. I’ve dealt with a lot in my life and worked hard on overcoming the bullying, so it was time to do something about my love-life. It’s going really well with Patrick so far.
For more, grab a copy of WHO’s latest issue. On sale now!
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
