Yesterday, a friend shared with me a story that concurrently broke my heart and infuriated me—that of her beautiful daughter’s superficial boss stating that if the young lady wanted to keep her job, she needed to lose weight. The boss—a woman—went on to say more things that are so cruel, so vicious that I can’t even share them here. But the more I listened, the angrier I became.

Shortly after that conversation with the boss, the young lady was removed from the work schedule—without explanation or termination—just pretty much banished to invisibility.

The young lady’s mother grappled with a mixture of emotions ranging from the need to nurture and help her daughter heal, to wondering who she could call to help her hide the body of the mean spirited beast who had broken her inconsolable baby cub’s spirit.

As I drove home from work, the conversation haunted me, ultimately leading to a social media post seeking others’ thoughts regarding the matter as well as words of encouragement for the young lady.

I wanted to know how anyone could think that this sort of behavior is even remotely acceptable.

The response was overwhelming: It’s not okay.

“Mean girls grow up to be mean women,” said one person, and another stated, “Fat shaming is alive and well.” Many shared stories of a parent or a sibling or a friend or even similar instances in which they, themselves, had been judged and deemed unworthy based on appearance rather than capabilities.

It’s not okay.

Tonight, after getting home from a long week at the office, I looked forward to kicking back and relaxing, perhaps watching a movie. I opted instead to catch up on  episode of “The Voice” that I missed earlier this week.

As I watched the clip of the first artist to perform that evening, it became clear that this choice was no coincidence.

Kyla Jade is the contestant’s name, and the song she selected to perform was from the soundtrack of “The Greatest Showman” titled “This Is Me.”

“I don’t believe my story is done here on The Voice,” Kyla said. “I’m singing this song to change lives.”

As she sat in the rehearsal studio with her Voice coach, Blake Shelton, her voice quivered as she said, “My life is this song.”

“I had a guy [on social media] say, ‘Oh she has a great voice but I could never look at her in concert.'”

Kyla explained that she chose the song because it’s “a story of triumph, not necessarily that they won, but it’s the ability to be hurt, to be overwhelmed, but to know that there’s another side.”

She choked up as she continued.

“I always go back to baby Kyla, the insecure, self-conscious young girl,” she said. “I never felt pretty so if I can help another girl realize that she’s amazing, then I’ve done what I need to do.”

And boy, did she do it with an anthemic performance that sent a message loud and clear:

It’s not okay.

A teary-eyed judge Alicia Keys emphatically stated, “You are stunning. You are riveting. You are masterful. I don’t know whoever or whatever systemic, institutionalized garbage made you ever feel like less than the glorious goddess than you are. It is not real. You come out here and show everybody what’s possible. So thank you for baring your soul like that.”

Blake Shelton responded in kind.

“We not only heard your message, I think everybody in this room and watching at home felt it.”

They did, indeed.

Kyla received a loud and lengthy standing ovation, and ultimately was voted through to the next round.

I think it’s safe to say that after seeing how that jerk’s words affected Kyla, and subsequently seeing the heartfelt performance, nearly everyone who witnessed that was ready to bitchslap that social media jackass into next week.

So to all the mean girls, the cruel guys, the insensitive, self-absorbed, shallow and insecure people out there who feel it’s okay to judge, to humiliate, to make anyone feel any less than who they are, this performance is for you.

And to all those who asked that I post the name of the cruel boss so they could shame her in return, after speaking with the young lady’s mother about this and seeing the outpouring of love and support for her daughter, we both came to realize this:

This isn’t just about her daughter.  It’s so much bigger than that. It’s about everyone who’s been judged at one time or another by superficial standards instead of superwoman (or superman) standards.

This situation has become an opportunity to shout out to the world that this kind of insensitive behavior is inexcusable, inhumane and it will not be tolerated.

#ItsNotOkay

“This Is Me” lyrics

I am not a stranger to the dark.

Hide away, they say,
’cause we don’t want your broken parts.
I’ve learned to be ashamed of all my scars.
Run away, they say,
No one’ll love you as you are.
But I won’t let them break me down to dust.
I know that there’s a place for us
For we are glorious.

CHORUS

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down,
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out.
I am brave, I am bruised,
I am who I’m meant to be,
This is me.
Look out ’cause here I come.
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum.
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies,
This is me.

Another round of bullets hits my skin.
Well, fire away ’cause today, I won’t let the shame sink in.
We are bursting through the barricades and
Reaching for the sun (we are warriors.)
Yeah, that’s what we’ve become.
I won’t let them break me down to dust
I know that there’s a place for us
For we are glorious.

CHORUS

And I know that I deserve your love
’cause there’s nothing I’m not worthy of.
Look out ’cause here I come (look out ’cause here I come)
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on)
I’m not scared to be seen,
I make no apologies, this is me.

Songwriters: Justin Paul/Benj Pasek

This Is Me lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.