Bullies no match for junior miss with a message

It's hard to look tough wearing a sparkly crown with a gown and sash.

But 11-year-old Ariel Owens, whose title of International Junior Miss Teen Tourism is bigger than she is, gives it her best shot as she stares straight into the camera and puts bullies everywhere on notice:

"I've had enough!'' the red-headed, freckled-faced preteen exclaims.

Ariel made bully prevention her platform during a reign that ends this fall. It's all captured on her YouTube video, produced a few months ago by pageant organizers.

A former victim of cruel teasing and cyberbullying, the Orange Grove Middle Magnet seventh-grader vows the push will continue.

She announces her resolve the same week U.S. Department of Education leaders and White House officials met for the second annual Bullying Prevention Summit in Washington, D.C.

The two-day event ended Thursday and brought national organizations, parents, teachers and students together to talk about anti-bullying efforts across the country.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 70 percent of students play some role in bullying, either as bully, victim or witness.

They also talked about the tragic epidemic unfolding across America as growing numbers of children, including several in Florida, have killed themselves to escape being bullied.

National statistics don't yet exist for such deaths, but several high profile cases have prompted them to be labeled "bullycides.''

"It's heart-wrenching to know that some children would rather die than face another day of school,'' Ariel says in her video. "How do I know? I've been there.''

Her ordeal began in kindergarten, says her mother, Kim, when other kids started teasing the vivacious little girl for a learning disability that made her a little slower and the attention deficit disorder that made it hard for her to focus.

It took nearly a year before Ariel worked up the courage to tell her mom.

"I was heartbroken,'' Kim recalls.

She went to the principal and Ariel's teachers, who tried to look out for the little girl but told Kim "they're just being kids.''

The adults couldn't be everywhere, though, and, somehow, the bullies were.

Ariel says she was tormented all through elementary school. Kids made fun of her because she liked to compete in pageants. Some spread nasty rumors about her.

Others would hit her on the back of the head when she walked through the hall and shouted, "Oh look, it's the stupid girl.''

Kim started monitoring her daughter's text messages and email, and tried to bolster her spirits when the meanness would get to her.

When Ariel started middle school last fall, she and her mom thought it would be a fresh start.

But the bullying only grew worse, Ariel says. She toughed out the year, then applied to Orange Grove, where "everything is different.''

Ariel revels in all things performing arts.

"I fit in better,'' she says.

There's cheer practice, singing and dancing. And friends. Lots of friends.

They watch her back and root for her as she continues to compete in contests. Up next, the Gasparilla Kids Pageant.

Even without a crown, Ariel says she will continue to push for more bullying awareness.

She joined Hillsborough County's Bully Busters, a group dedicated to community education and prevention, attending regular meetings and talking with other kids about the issue.

She offers those being bullied some advice.

"At first, if it's not really bad, tell an adult,'' Ariel says. "If it doesn't stop, try to ignore them.''

Hang out with friends, if you can.

"Bullies won't come near you if you have a lot of friends,'' Ariel says.

Last month, she spoke at a Hillsborough County School Board meeting, asking the school district to support a Stand Up Against Bullying effort.

Each school already has an anti-bullying program, required by state law, with many adopting the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. The program teaches students to stand up for each other and against the bully.

Hillsborough also has an anti-bullying policy that defines bullying and spells out punishment for violators. And there's an extensive reporting system requiring principals to immediately respond and an online option that allows the reporter to remain anonymous.

Ariel thinks there's more work to do.

Her idea is for every student to wear pink on a certain day, following in the footsteps of some Canadian students who, last year, wore pink in honor of a ninth-grader being bullied because he wore a pink shirt to school.

The event has spread internationally with students donning pink shirts to show solidarity.

"I just thought it was really cool,'' Ariel says.

She also plans to visit other schools to share her message, one that can be heard on her video.

"If you need help, come to me,'' she declares in her little gold pageant dress. "I've got your back.''