Bullied Teen Turns Homecoming Heroine After Cruel Prank Backfires

By Debbie Emery - RadarOnline.com Reporter

A bullied teenager who was tormented by her high school classmates was shocked to learn that she had been voted onto the homecoming court, but her delight at the good news quickly turned to humiliation when she learned it was a cruel prank.

Whitney Kropp, 16, of West Branch, Michigan, was the object of such disdain by fellow students that they thought it would be hilarious to nominate the unpopular girl for the popularity contest, reported the Detroit News, but they never expected the tables to be turned on them.

Now with the homecoming dance just days away, local businesses are plying her with free perks including dinner, professional photos, manicures and make-up, and even a glamourous gown, shoes and tiara!

During the homecoming game on Friday, residents will fill the football stadium of Ogemaw Heights High wearing Whitney's favorite color of orange and tee-shirts pledging their support.

"I never thought I would be part of it," she told NBC's TODAY. "Really it is just for the big popular people."

The celebration is a remarkable sign of good karma for the lonely teen who for years has been either mocked, emotionally tortured or simply ignored by her classmates until her name was called out during geometry class announcing she had been voted in to the court with the rest of the popular kids.

With her dyed hair and black goth-like outfits, Whitney never fit in with the other youngsters in the sleepy rural town, who took the stance of hurting anyone who dared to stand out.

Described as "soft-hearted" and "not having a mean bone in her body," by her family, she was excited when she heard about the nomination – even when football star and other sophomore rep, Josh Awrey dropped out. "In the Homecoming Court! :) Little nervous but this is going to be fun," she wrote on her Facebook page, which elicited a string of coy replies from bitchy classmates.

That night though she was found heart-broken and crying by her mother, Bernice Kropp, as she sobbed that she didn't want to do it. 

"She was getting ridiculed in school and on Facebook," said the concerned parent, who along with other family members persuaded Whitney to go to homecoming and prove to the bullies that she is better than they are.

"Im a beautiful person and you shouldn't mess with me!" the girl, who was once kicked with steel-toed boots, later wrote defiantly on her timeline.

A Facebook page that has been created to back her has already garnered more than 67,000 "likes," as a slew of well-wishers have come out to share their own bullying experiences.

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