Raquel Blackwell, 38 shares her amazing story:
Bursting through the door, my son, Jordan, threw his school bag on the floor and stormed off to his room.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I frowned, following him.
“They called me Burger King today,” he said, lip trembling. “They shoved me up against the lockers and teased me.”
My heart broke for him.
At 65kg, Jordan, 10, was overweight for his age, but it wasn’t because he was a big eater or lazy.
He had a club foot and had been undergoing treatment and surgeries at hospital to correct his posture for many years.
Jordan and I ready for his year 10 leaving dinner.
(Image exclusive to Take 5)He couldn’t stand on his feet for long or the pain got too great, so the weight piled on.
Over the next few years Jordan put up a resistance to going to school. Kids bullied him constantly, even encouraging him to take his own life.
Enough was enough.
I changed his schools and, thankfully, we saw an immediate difference in personality.
The once bright and bubbly boy who loved to sing and act returned.
Jordan made new friends, his grades improved and he even began raising funds for the hospital by dressing up as Santa and collecting money to buy sick kids presents for Christmas.
Jordan dressed as Santa.
(Image exclusive to Take 5)One day he came home from school beaming with excitement.
He’d signed up to participate in the Mr/Miss Diamond Beauty Pageant, which had no age, height or weight criteria.
I want to win because I want to let people know that even though I was bullied, I can still make a contribution to my community, he wrote in his application.
I was the proudest mum when Jordan was selected as a national finalist and had to do 50 public appearances promoting his cause – raising funds for the hospital.
I drove him all around Tassie, where he spoke at shopping centres, parks and charity events, talking to strangers and explaining why he was doing this.
Some people made fun of him for his weight, but Jordan wasn’t bothered.
Jordan bought toys for sick kids.
(Image exclusive to Take 5)“I don’t care about them anymore,” he said, face filled with determination.
To prepare for the catwalk, he started strutting around the lounge room.
He was so confident that I knew he would be a hit no matter what.
“It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, I’m proud of you,” I said, hugging him.
Just some of the money he’s raised and donated.
(Image exclusive to Take 5)He took out first place.
“This is the happiest day of my life,” he said.
Since then, Jordan’s confidence has skyrocketed and he appears publicly as an ambassador and judge for other pageants.
Recently, he starred in the school musical and is keen to continue performing.
His story is a reminder to everyone that you can always shine and must never give up.
Jordan with Miss Diamond Australia Brooke Cochrane.
(Image exclusive to Take 5)Jordan tells take 5:
“No matter how much you’re told you can’t do something, don’t listen. You can do anything you put your mind to. You’ve just got to believe in yourself.”
