People can be so cruel. It's fortunate to be blessed with thick skin in this harsh world.
Michelle Elman could have easily backed down, crumpled under scrutiny, and let her bullies get the best of her.
Instead, she did what most people wouldn't dare do: she stood up to them and loved herself in the process.
Elman battled many health issues when she was younger, including a brain tumor and 15 surgeries. The results of winning those health battles were the scars that still remind her of her victories.
No matter what we do, whether it's overcoming a health issue, just living our lives, or giving birth, our bodies change with our experiences.
Another body positivity guru, Julie Bhosale, documented her post-pregnancy body, imperfections and all.
After years of being nervous about showing her scars off, Elman finally got the courage to do so. But instead of seeing a strong, beautiful woman in a bikini who had been through a lot, many people chose to focus on the size of her belly.
See how Elman handled herself in the face of bullies below, and SHARE if you're proud of your body!
Meet Michelle Elman, a gorgeous young woman who has been struggling with her body image for a while now.

After mustering up the courage, Michelle was nervous and excited to show the world her body in a bikini because of several scars on her stomach. "I finally faced up to wearing a bikini and although, I love my body thoroughly and have for many years - this

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After 15 surgeries, a brain tumor, a punctured intestine, an obstructed bowel, a brain cyst and hydrocephalus, Michelle was left with a few battle scars. She was always nervous about how they would look. “I insisted that they cut on top of a previous scar so that they didn’t create a new one,” she told BuzzFeed News.

“At school someone pointed at at my scar on my chest and said my nipple was showing, and then when I told them it wasn’t a nipple, they teased me for having a third nipple. I’ve also had friends of the family when I was sunbathing tell me my scars will mean a boy will never be interested in me," she said.

While most comments were positive, some said that she should be embarrassed about her body, not for the scars, but because she was fat. “Nothing wrong with wearing a bikini just because you have scars … however not when you are morbidly obese," a commenter said.